Week 12 Open the Gate Honoree: Nick Kurtz
10/28/2025 9:20:00 AM | Baseball, Football
The Wake Forest baseball All-American and 2025 Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year will serve as the Open the Gate honoree during the Demon Deacons’ game against North Carolina.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest baseball All-American and 2025 Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz will serve as the Open the Gate honoree during the Demon Deacons' week 12 matchup against Big Four rival North Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Allegacy Stadium.
Born and raised in Lancaster, Pa., Kurtz helped solidify the Wake Forest baseball program into a national powerhouse as soon as he stepped foot on campus.
Overall, Kurtz finished his Wake Forest career with a .333 batting average, 189 hits, 206 runs scored, 182 RBIs, and 61 home runs. He currently ranks inside the top five program history in career walks (first), slugging percentage (first), home runs (second), total bases (third), and runs scored (third).
After wrapping up an incredible college career, Kurtz was one of three Demon Deacons to be selected in the top-10 of the 2024 MLB Draft, being selected fourth overall by the Athletics.
After spending the end of the 2024 season and the beginning of the 2025 season in the minor leagues, Kurtz was officially called up to the majors on April 23, making his MLB debut against the Texas Rangers.
Kurtz would go on to have an incredible rookie season, finishing the season with a .290 batting average, 122 hits, 36 home runs, and 86 RBIs, helping him earn Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year honors.
While at Wake Forest, Kurtz appeared in 54 games with 53 starts during one of the most dominant freshman campaigns in program history as he tied the freshman runs scored record (65) and finished in the top 10 in home runs (tied for second), walks (second), RBIs (tied for second), hits (fifth) and doubles (tied for ninth) by a Demon Deacon rookie. He finished his debut season with a .338 batting average while also adding 69 hits, 65 runs, 56 RBIs, 48 walks, and 15 home runs. Kurtz also led the ACC with a .422 batting average and .548 on-base percentage in conference play, helping him earn Third Team All-ACC and All-ACC Rookie honors, as well as Freshman All-American honors by D1Baseball, Perfect Game, Baseball America, the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball.
Kurtz and the Demon Deacons built on his first collegiate season with an incredible 2023 campaign, as he and Wake Forest made their first appearance in the College World Series since 1955. During his sophomore year, Kurtz appeared in and started all 56 games for the Deacs, finishing the season with a .353 batting average while also adding 67 hits, 69 RBIs, and 24 home runs. He also ranked second in the ACC in home runs, walks (63), runs scored (76) and slugging percentage (.784), with his walks and slugging percentage also ranking in the top-10 nationally. As a result of his stellar play, Kurtz was named First Team All-ACC, a First Team All-American by ABCA, Second Team All-American by Baseball America and NCBWA, Third Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, and a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist.
Heading into his junior year, Kurtz was named a Preseason All-American by D1Baseball and Perfect Game, Preseason Player of the Year, and Team Captain for the preseason No. 1 team in the country. In his final season with the Deacs, Kurtz led the nation with 78 walks, setting a new Wake Forest single season walks record in the process. Kurtz also set the new program record for career walks (189) while ending the season with a .306 batting average, 53 hits, 57 RBIs, and a team-high 22 home runs. Kurtz also earned First Team All-ACC, All-Region, and Third Team All-American honors while also being named a semifinalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award.
Open the Gate Information & 2025 Honorees
The Open the Gate tradition, established in 2008, celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to the Wake Forest and Winston-Salem communities. Honorees are recognized during football games by leading the team onto the field alongside the Demon Deacon mascot.
Week 1 - Tony Bresky
Week 2 - Johnny Foster ('78)
Week 3 - Erin Regan ('02)
Week 5 - Brandon Chubb ('16)
Week 9 - Janice Story ('75)
Week 12 - Nick Kurtz
Born and raised in Lancaster, Pa., Kurtz helped solidify the Wake Forest baseball program into a national powerhouse as soon as he stepped foot on campus.
Overall, Kurtz finished his Wake Forest career with a .333 batting average, 189 hits, 206 runs scored, 182 RBIs, and 61 home runs. He currently ranks inside the top five program history in career walks (first), slugging percentage (first), home runs (second), total bases (third), and runs scored (third).
After wrapping up an incredible college career, Kurtz was one of three Demon Deacons to be selected in the top-10 of the 2024 MLB Draft, being selected fourth overall by the Athletics.
After spending the end of the 2024 season and the beginning of the 2025 season in the minor leagues, Kurtz was officially called up to the majors on April 23, making his MLB debut against the Texas Rangers.
Kurtz would go on to have an incredible rookie season, finishing the season with a .290 batting average, 122 hits, 36 home runs, and 86 RBIs, helping him earn Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year honors.
While at Wake Forest, Kurtz appeared in 54 games with 53 starts during one of the most dominant freshman campaigns in program history as he tied the freshman runs scored record (65) and finished in the top 10 in home runs (tied for second), walks (second), RBIs (tied for second), hits (fifth) and doubles (tied for ninth) by a Demon Deacon rookie. He finished his debut season with a .338 batting average while also adding 69 hits, 65 runs, 56 RBIs, 48 walks, and 15 home runs. Kurtz also led the ACC with a .422 batting average and .548 on-base percentage in conference play, helping him earn Third Team All-ACC and All-ACC Rookie honors, as well as Freshman All-American honors by D1Baseball, Perfect Game, Baseball America, the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball.
Kurtz and the Demon Deacons built on his first collegiate season with an incredible 2023 campaign, as he and Wake Forest made their first appearance in the College World Series since 1955. During his sophomore year, Kurtz appeared in and started all 56 games for the Deacs, finishing the season with a .353 batting average while also adding 67 hits, 69 RBIs, and 24 home runs. He also ranked second in the ACC in home runs, walks (63), runs scored (76) and slugging percentage (.784), with his walks and slugging percentage also ranking in the top-10 nationally. As a result of his stellar play, Kurtz was named First Team All-ACC, a First Team All-American by ABCA, Second Team All-American by Baseball America and NCBWA, Third Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, and a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist.
Heading into his junior year, Kurtz was named a Preseason All-American by D1Baseball and Perfect Game, Preseason Player of the Year, and Team Captain for the preseason No. 1 team in the country. In his final season with the Deacs, Kurtz led the nation with 78 walks, setting a new Wake Forest single season walks record in the process. Kurtz also set the new program record for career walks (189) while ending the season with a .306 batting average, 53 hits, 57 RBIs, and a team-high 22 home runs. Kurtz also earned First Team All-ACC, All-Region, and Third Team All-American honors while also being named a semifinalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award.
Open the Gate Information & 2025 Honorees
The Open the Gate tradition, established in 2008, celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to the Wake Forest and Winston-Salem communities. Honorees are recognized during football games by leading the team onto the field alongside the Demon Deacon mascot.
Week 1 - Tony Bresky
Week 2 - Johnny Foster ('78)
Week 3 - Erin Regan ('02)
Week 5 - Brandon Chubb ('16)
Week 9 - Janice Story ('75)
Week 12 - Nick Kurtz
Players Mentioned
1B
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