Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz has been tapped to start at first base for the American League in the upcoming All-Star Game, stepping in for Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is sitting out to nurse an ailing back.
Guerrero had earned his spot through fan voting but made the decision to skip the midsummer classic in order to let his back recover ahead of the season’s second half. Kurtz, who holds the title of reigning AL Rookie of the Year, had received the highest vote total among AL first basemen on the player ballot, making him the natural replacement for the starting role.
Back problems have been a recurring issue for Guerrero this season. He missed back-to-back games against the New York Yankees in mid-June when the injury flared up, and he also sat out a game against the New York Mets last Tuesday because of the same problem.
Guerrero spoke about the tough call he had to make, saying, “It’s very difficult for me. But I really have to take care of myself and I’ve got to put my team first for the second half.” Those comments were reported by Sportsnet.
The All-Star selection would have been the 27-year-old’s sixth in a row. Offensively, Guerrero has had a quieter year than usual, posting a .265 batting average with just four home runs and 35 RBIs across 82 games. That’s a notable dip from his usual power output — he has hit 23 or more home runs in each of the past five seasons, including a league-leading 48 back in 2021.
Kurtz, 23, has been putting together a strong campaign of his own, hitting .278 with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs in 88 games this season.
The All-Star Game is set to take place on July 14 in Philadelphia.
