“Greatest Performance Ever:” Nick Kurtz Has Game for Ages

Nick Kurtz of the Athletics celebrating his fourth homer of the game against the Astros

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

July 25, 2025

“Greatest Performance Ever:” Nick Kurtz Has Game for Ages
Athletics 15, Astros 3

HOUSTON (July 25) — Longtime Major League Baseball general manager Roland Hemond was known for saying that any time you attend a baseball game, you may see something that has never happened before. For the writers, broadcasters, players, staff, and 37,700 spectators in attendance at Daikin Park for Friday’s game between the Athletics and the Houston Astros, that was a true statement. Athletics rookie slugger Nick Kurtz did something in the Athletics’ 15–3 victory that no one else has ever done in the 149-year history of Major League Baseball — 6-for-6, six runs scored, four homers, and eight RBI all in the same game.

Sure, there have been 6-for-6 games before — 80 times, in fact. There have been 19 other four-homer games, including one on April 26 of this year (Eugenio Suarez), albeit none by a rookie. Eight RBI in a game has happened over 160 times, and eight isn’t even the single-game record. 12 is. And Friday was the ninth time a player scored six runs in a game. We have even seen a player go 6-for-6 with four homers one other time — Shawn Green of the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 23, 2002, which is also the only other time we’ve ever seen a player notch 19 total bases. But Green had seven RBI, not eight.

What Did We Just See?

It was a night that was difficult to put into words. Manager Mark Kotsay tried to describe what he had just seen. Through laughs of disbelief, he said, “I don’t really know how to describe that one. It’s arguably the best game I’ve ever watched from a single player.” Kotsay added that he saw Barry Bonds’ 73-homer season in 2001, noting that he was in center field for it. He also noted Shawn Green, a good friend of his. But his focus was on Kurtz. “This kid continues to have jaw-dropping moments. And to witness that tonight was pretty special for all of us.”

“‘No words’ is the best way to put it,” Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who started for the Athletics Friday night, said when asked how to describe Kurtz’ performance. “It’s unbelievable to be as locked in as he is. There doesn’t seem to be any holes.” Springs mentioned how the Astros tried to work him over the outer part of the plate, only for him to hit two homers to the opposite field. Springs added, “They try to come up and in with 97 (mph), and then he turns on it. It’s unbelievable.”

“Unbelievable” was the first word shortstop Jacob Wilson used to describe Kurtz’ performance. “That’s, obviously, the greatest offensive performance I’ve ever seen. I think it’s up there for one of the best the game has ever seen.”

Kurtz looked as if he was in a dream-like haze when asked what was crossing his mind after the game he had. “It still really hasn’t set in that it actually just happened. A game like that is stuff that you don’t even dream about, because it doesn’t really happen. So it’s an unbelievable feeling. Glad we got the win, obviously, and to have that performance was awesome.”

Three Words from Law

Outfielder and clubhouse leader Lawrence Butler came up with three words for Kurtz’s magical night. “Greatest performance ever,” he grinned. “That was a Road to the Show game. On rookie. With sliders up. It was insane. It was insane.” Butler was referring to the career mode on the popular video game franchise MLB The Show.

When asked what it was like in the dugout both when Kurtz was batting for the sixth time and after he hit the last homer, he said, “We (Kurtz’s teammates) were all probably feeling the same thing. He was just feeling shocked. I didn’t really know what to do with myself but give him a hug. It was an insane performance.”

Springs, with a grin, summed up what everyone on the Athletics pitching staff must be feeling: “I’m glad he’s on our team.”