Nick Kurtz Drafted Fourth Overall by the Oakland Athletics
7/14/2024 7:43:00 PM | Baseball
The First Team All-ACC selection is the fourth Demon Deacon taken in the top 10 in program history, joining teammate Chase Burns, back-to-back ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder a season ago and Kyle Sleeth (‘03).
FORT WORTH, Texas – Wake Forest baseball's Nick Kurtz was selected by the Oakland Athletics with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Sunday.
"Nick Kurtz is a true pro," head coach Tom Walter said. "The Oakland Athletics drafted someone who's work ethic, ability to make those around him better and his consistency a sure fire big leaguer. He hits the ball to all fields for power and average while also being an elite defender.
The first baseman is the 12th Demon Deacon all-time taken in the first round of the draft and sixth in the last four years, joining teammate Chase Burns was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the second pick of the 2024 Draft, Rhett Lowder (2023), Brock Wilken (2023), Ryan Cusick (2021) and Jared Shuster (2020).
Additionally, he is the third-highest selected Demon Deacon in program history, joining Burns and Kyle Sleeth (3rd overall in 2003).
FIRST ROUND DEACS
The Lancaster, Pennsylvania native is the 56th Demon Deacon selected over the last 10 seasons. He is also the sixth Deac selected by the Athletics all-time. He will join fellow Demon Deacon's Ryan Cusick and Colin Peluse in the organization.
WAKE FOREST ATTENDEES DRAFTED BY EACH TEAM
Kurtz ranked first nationally with 1.44 bases on balls per game, as he has earned a nation-leading 78 free passes in his final season as a Demon Deacon. He became the Wake Forest program record holder with 189 free passes throughout his career, surpassing Pat Blair (180 / 2010-13). Additionally, he also set the single-season walk record with his nation-leading 70th of the campaign, surpassing Brock Wilken's 69 bases on balls a season ago. As a junior , Kurtz has 19 multi-walk performances and eight with at least three.
He held a staggering .510 career on-base percentage over the course of his three seasons in a Wake Forest uniform. Additionally, Kurtz was the only active player in Division-I to play more than 150 career games and have a career OBP of .500 or better. This season he had a team-best .531 on-base percentage, following up his sophomore campaign where Kurtz had an eye-popping .527 OBP.
The pop matches his patience, as Kurtz ranked tied for seventh among active Division-I players with 61 home runs, and moved into second all-time in program history, as he paced the team with 22 homers on the year.
Kurtz's 2024 Awards and Honors
2024 MLB Draft
Day one of the draft is currently live and airing nationally on MLB Network and ESPN. Days two and three will begin at 2 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday respectively and can be streamed on MLB.com and the MLB App.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
"Nick Kurtz is a true pro," head coach Tom Walter said. "The Oakland Athletics drafted someone who's work ethic, ability to make those around him better and his consistency a sure fire big leaguer. He hits the ball to all fields for power and average while also being an elite defender.
The first baseman is the 12th Demon Deacon all-time taken in the first round of the draft and sixth in the last four years, joining teammate Chase Burns was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the second pick of the 2024 Draft, Rhett Lowder (2023), Brock Wilken (2023), Ryan Cusick (2021) and Jared Shuster (2020).
Additionally, he is the third-highest selected Demon Deacon in program history, joining Burns and Kyle Sleeth (3rd overall in 2003).
FIRST ROUND DEACS
| Name (Year) | Pick | Team |
| Nick Kurtz (2024) | 4 | Oakland Athletics |
| Chase Burns (2024) | 2 | Cincinnati Reds |
| Rhett Lowder (2023) | 7 | Cincinnati Reds |
| Brock Wilken (2023) | 18 | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Ryan Cusick (2021) | 24 | Atlanta Braves |
| Jared Shuster (2020) | 25 | Atlanta Braves |
| Will Craig (2016) | 22 | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Allan Dykstra (2008) | 23 | San Diego Padres |
| Matt Antonelli (2006) | 17 | San Diego Padres |
| Kyle Sleeth (2003) | 3 | Detroit Tigers |
| Mike MacDougal (1999) | 25 | Kansas City Royals |
| Bret Wagner (1994) | 19 | St. Louis Cardinals |
The Lancaster, Pennsylvania native is the 56th Demon Deacon selected over the last 10 seasons. He is also the sixth Deac selected by the Athletics all-time. He will join fellow Demon Deacon's Ryan Cusick and Colin Peluse in the organization.
WAKE FOREST ATTENDEES DRAFTED BY EACH TEAM
| Team | # | Most Recent | Highest Overall Pick |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 10 | 2021 | 22 (2016) |
| New York Yankees | 10 | 2008 | 68 (2000) |
| Atlanta Braves | 9 | 2021 | 24 (2021) |
| Baltimore Orioles | 8 | 2019 | 111 (1996) |
| Detroit Tigers | 7 | 2023 | 3 (2003) |
| Chicago White Sox | 7 | 2023 | 49 (2017) |
| Cleveland Guardians | 7 | 2023 | 188 (2023) |
| Washington Nationals | 7 | 2017 | 384 (2012) |
| Cincinnati Reds | 6 | 2023 | 7 (2023) |
| Seattle Mariners | 6 | 2023 | 36 (1986) |
| San Francisco Giants | 6 | 2019 | 115 (2012) |
| Boston Red Sox | 6 | 2011 | 219 (1993) |
| Oakland Athletics | 6 | 2024 | 4 (2024) |
| Colorado Rockies | 5 | 2023 | 46 (2023) |
| Los Angeles Angels | 5 | 2023 | 51 (1983) |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 5 | 2022 | 55 (2002) |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 5 | 2021 | 66 (2003) |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 5 | 2022 | 55 (2002) |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 5 | 2018 | 19 (1994) |
| San Diego Padres | 5 | 2017 | 17 (2006) |
| Chicago Cubs | 5 | 2016 | 289 (2001) |
| Houston Astros | 5 | 2012 | 399 (2012) |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 4 | 2023 | 18 (2023) |
| Kansas City Royals | 4 | 2023 | 25 (1999) |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 4 | 2023 | 245 (1970) |
| Minnesota Twins | 4 | 2017 | 856 (2017) |
| New York Mets | 4 | 2017 | 99 (2007) |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 3 | 2021 | 101 (2021) |
| Miami Marlins | 2 | 2002 | 1163 (2002) |
| Texas Rangers | 1 | 2003 | 166 (2003) |
| Total | 157 | 2024 | 2 (2024) |
Kurtz ranked first nationally with 1.44 bases on balls per game, as he has earned a nation-leading 78 free passes in his final season as a Demon Deacon. He became the Wake Forest program record holder with 189 free passes throughout his career, surpassing Pat Blair (180 / 2010-13). Additionally, he also set the single-season walk record with his nation-leading 70th of the campaign, surpassing Brock Wilken's 69 bases on balls a season ago. As a junior , Kurtz has 19 multi-walk performances and eight with at least three.
He held a staggering .510 career on-base percentage over the course of his three seasons in a Wake Forest uniform. Additionally, Kurtz was the only active player in Division-I to play more than 150 career games and have a career OBP of .500 or better. This season he had a team-best .531 on-base percentage, following up his sophomore campaign where Kurtz had an eye-popping .527 OBP.
The pop matches his patience, as Kurtz ranked tied for seventh among active Division-I players with 61 home runs, and moved into second all-time in program history, as he paced the team with 22 homers on the year.
Kurtz's 2024 Awards and Honors
- 2024 Team Captain
- 2024 Second Team All-American by D1 Baseball
- 2024 Second Team All-American by Perfect Game
- 2024 Third Team All-American by ABCA
- 2024 Third Team All-American by NCBWA
- 2024 ACC All-Tournament
- 2024 ABCA First Team All-South Region
- First Team All-ACC
- Golden Spikes Semifinalist
- ACC Player of the Week (4/15)
- ACC Player of the Week (4/8)
- D1 Baseball Player of the Week (4/8)
- Perfect Game Player of the Week (4/8)
- NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Week (4/8)
- Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger of the Week (4/8)
- Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List
- NCBWA Preseason First Team All-American
- D1 Baseball Preseason ACC Player of the Year
- D1 Baseball Preseason First Team All-American
- D1 Baseball Preseason Player Rankings: No. 1 First Basemen
- Perfect Game Preseason Player of the Year
- Perfect Game Preseason ACC Player of the Year
- Perfect Game Preseason First Team All-American
- Perfect Game Preseason All-ACC Team
- Baseball America Preseason First Team All-American
2024 MLB Draft
Day one of the draft is currently live and airing nationally on MLB Network and ESPN. Days two and three will begin at 2 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday respectively and can be streamed on MLB.com and the MLB App.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
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