Athletics place All-Star Nick Kurtz on IL with thumb issue; White Sox CF Tristan Peters will take 1B's spot on AL roster
Playing for the currently nomadic Athletics, Nick Kurtz doesn't have the luxury of big-market exposure. Even so, he's still earned national acclaim early in his major-league career.
An historic four-homer game propelled his American League Rookie of the Year campaign last year. But this year, the 23-year-old Kurtz had a shot to take center stage at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, for which he was set to be the AL's starting first baseman.
Unfortunately for Kurtz, he'll have to wait for his Midsummer Classic debut. The first-time All-Star will be sidelined for Tuesday's exhibition in Philadelphia due to a thumb issue that's landed him on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Friday.
The A's are describing the setback as a "right thumb capsule sprain." Kurtz was poised to become the franchise's first player to start at first base in an All-Star Game since Jason Giambi in 2000 — that was, after Toronto Blue Jays standout Vladimir Guerrero Jr. turned down his selection. Now, however, Chicago White Sox center fielder Tristan Peters will take Kurtz's spot on the AL roster for this year's All-Star Game.
As for the A's roster, Kurtz's vacancy there will be filled by catcher Brian Serven, whom they recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas.
Peters is suddenly one of three White Sox players rostered for the All-Star Game. He joins third baseman Miguel Vargas and first baseman Munetaka Murakami. Peters, also a first-time MLB All-Star, hit for the cycle during a 14-1 win over the A's on Friday night in Chicago.
Before that game, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay revealed Kurtz's thumb injury.
"We had Kurtz evaluated because he's been dealing with a right thumb issue," Kotsay said, per MLB.com. "He's played through it for, I don't want to quote the timeline, but more than a few days. … We're expecting him to have to go to the IL, which, obviously, will impact the All-Star Game. Once we really determine that, we'll have more info."
The A's also lost utility player Zack Gelof to the 10-day IL this week. Gelof suffered a right knee laceration on Thursday while crashing into a side wall in foul territory as he made a highlight-reel grab amid a 4-1 road loss to the Detroit Tigers.
The injury-riddled A's came into Saturday's game against the White Sox as losers of seven straight. Once 36-36, they've gone a putrid 5-17 since.
