Nick Kurtz replaces Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as AL All-Star starting first baseman
· Yahoo Sports
Nick Kurtz's rise to major league stardom will now include a starting spot for the American League in the All-Star Game.
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The Athletics first baseman assumed the starting position shortly after All-Star rosters were announced, when Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opted out of the game, telling reporters he needs to prioritize overcoming a lower back issue.
That means Kurtz, who grew up about 90 minutes from Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park and earned the nickname "Big Amish," will get the start in what may be the first of several All-Star appearances in his career.
Kurtz, 23, was an instant smash after making his debut April 23, 2025, though his dominance of major league pitching came too late for him to earn an All-Star nod in his Rookie of the Year season. This year, he's hit 20 home runs and posted a .939 OPS for the Athletics, who are in their second of three seasons playing in West Sacramento's Yolo County before moving to Las Vegas.
Guerrero, who has yet to hit a home run at Rogers Centre this season, didn't exactly have the numbers to justify the position, yet the defending AL champions received such massive support at the ballot box that he held off Kurtz for the start. Nonetheless, he did not want to disappoint those who supported him.
"One of the hardest parts of not going," he told reporters. "It's very difficult for me. But I really have to take care of myself and I’ve got to put my team first for the second half."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nick Kurtz replaces Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as AL All-Star starting first baseman