A's Rookie Kurtz Breaks Slump in Historic Mets Sweep

Nick Kurtz swung so hard his helmet flew off, and when the ball cleared the right-field wall, the celebration everyone had been waiting for finally arrived.

The reigning American League Rookie of the Year cranked his first home run of 2026 on Sunday, a 363-foot solo shot that gave the Oakland A's a 1-0 victory over the Mets at Citi Field. The win secured the first series sweep of the Mets in A's franchise history, dating back to their first matchup in 2005.

Kurtz's slow start had some worried, but the numbers told a different story. Through his first 13 games, he entered Sunday tied for second in Major League Baseball in average exit velocity at 96.7 mph, trailing only Jordan Walker's 97.9 mph.

His plate discipline remained elite too, with 14 walks tied for second-most in the majors behind Mike Trout. The power was always there, just waiting to break through.

"He's taken some good at-bats," manager Mark Kotsay said. "A lot of times, you don't see young players take their walks when they're struggling."

This feels familiar to A's fans. Last year, Kurtz didn't homer until his 17th major league game, then exploded for 36 home runs over his final 101 games with a .293 average and 1.052 OPS.

Why This Inspires

The A's just proved they belong with baseball's best. Their 5-1 road trip against the Yankees and Mets capped a grueling 15-game gauntlet that included matchups against the Blue Jays, Braves, and Astros, five clubs expected to compete for playoff spots.

They didn't just survive, they thrived, going 8-7 and returning home guaranteed at least a share of first place in the AL West. Veteran pitcher Aaron Civale, new to the team this year, immediately noticed what makes this group special.

"There's a good energy and a good buzz every day," Civale said after blanking the Mets across 5 2/3 innings. "That's what creates a winning environment and a winning team."

The young A's have been turning heads with their creative celebrations and infectious energy, debuting a new "churning butter" gesture for home runs that has fans buzzing on social media. When Kurtz rounded second base after his homer, he saw his entire dugout twirling their arms in the circular motion.

"This proves us right in what we thought about ourselves," Kurtz said. "It shows that we are good."

With their confidence growing and their best hitter finally finding his power stroke, Oakland's young core is showing that joy and winning go hand in hand.