Oakland A’s pick Wake Forest first baseman No. 4 overall in MLB draft

The Athletics have officially made their final first-round pick of the franchise’s Oakland era, selecting Wake Forest’s Nick Kurtz fourth overall on Sunday in the 2024 Major League Baseball draft.

Kurtz, a 21-year-old first baseman, slashed .306/.531/.763 in his junior season with the Demon Deacons.

A native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Kurtz led the NCAA in walk rate at 28.5% and is the Wake Forest record holder for career walks.

The A’s had the fourth overall pick in the draft despite finishing with the worst record in Major League Baseball last season at 50-112. The Cleveland Guardians, who finished 76-86 in 2023, won the MLB Draft Lottery and the No. 1 overall pick despite entering with a 2% chance to win.

Oakland, along with the Kansas City Royals and Colorado Rockies, entered the lottery with the best chance to win the No. 1 pick at 18.3%.

The No. 4 pick is the A’s highest since they selected left-handed pitcher Mark Mulder No. 2 overall out of Michigan State in 1998. Mulder made All-Star teams with Oakland in 2003 and 2004, and led the American League with 21 wins in 2001.

The Athletics will also select at No. 40 and No. 73 on Sunday. The 40th pick leads off the second round, and the 73rd selection is the last pick in Competitive Balance Round B.

The MLB draft continues on Monday and Tuesday. Rounds 3-10 will occur on Monday, and rounds 11-20 will be held on Tuesday.

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