{"id":588189,"date":"2026-02-23T11:57:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T11:57:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/588189\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T11:57:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T11:57:12","slug":"slugging-first-baseman-nick-kurtz-looks-to-build-on-al-rookie-of-the-year-award-in-2nd-season-with-athletics-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/588189\/","title":{"rendered":"Slugging first baseman Nick Kurtz looks to build on AL Rookie of the Year award in 2nd season with Athletics | Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"

MESA, Ariz. (AP) \u2014 Aside from towering over most of his Athletics<\/a> teammates at 6-foot-5, Nick Kurtz blends in at his locker in the middle of the clubhouse \u2014 and that’s just the way he prefers it.<\/p>\n

Even now with the extra fanfare and attention on him this spring as reigning AL Rookie of the Year<\/a> at just 22. Kurtz stuck with his usual offseason routine of returning home to North Carolina, where he likes to \u201cchill,” play video games and watch movies when he’s not busy training.<\/p>\n

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Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MESA, Ariz. (AP) \u2014 Aside from towering over most of his Athletics teammates at 6-foot-5, Nick Kurtz 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