MLB Draft Profile- Nick Kurtz

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Today’s Spotlight - Wake Forest- First Basemen, Nick Kurtz

Name- Nick Kurtz

Pos- 1B

Team- Wake Forest

HT/WT- 6’5” 235 lbs

Born- 3/12/2003

Home – Lancaster, PA

Kurtz attended the Baylor Boarding School where he ranked the No. 10 recruit from Pennsylvania (No.2 first baseman). He was an All-State selection as a senior, and chose to join Wake Forest following his high school career.

Kurtz burst onto the scene as a freshman, having one of the best rookie years in Wake Forest program history. He slashed .338 with .637 slugging, 15 home runs, and 56 RBI. He was named Freshman All-American by D1Baseball, Perfect Game, Baseball America, the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball, and Third Team All-ACC and ACC All-Freshman Team selections.

Last season as a sophomore, Kurtz batted .353 while finishing second in the ACC in home runs (24), walks (63), runs scored (76) and slugging percentage (.784). He finished with 69 RBI and earned First Team All-ACC Honors.

This season, Kurtz is a junior. Through 40 games he is hitting .305 and has hit 18 home runs and knocked in 46 runs. In early April he went on an absolute tear, hitting 13 homers in 9 games. During that run he hit a homer in 6 straight games and 8 out of 9.

Strengths

• Size
• Contact Skills
• Power
• Baseball IQ
• Rarely Expands the zone

Kurtz has great size with an MLB ready body at first base. His offensive skills are well-rounded as he is above average in bat-to-ball skills, and is among the top power hitters in the draft class. His eye is elite and he rarely swings outside the zone.

Weaknesses

• Versatility
• Speed

Kurtz is at best an average runner, but has the baseball IQ to cause some trouble on the basepaths with great reads. He also lacks defensive versatility as he is an average glove at first base and does not fit the profile of a corner outfielder.

Kurtz is an outstanding first base prospect with great size, plus power and contact skills. His offensive skill set is impressive, and he provides solid defense at first base. He has potential to be a 30-home run presence, and a slugger in the middle of an MLB lineup.

Draft Nation Projection- 1st round pick ..top 10 pick

By- Ryan Myers