Nick Kurtz had quietly been one of the most exciting players in baseball since his arrival. On Friday night against the Houston Astros, he turned up the volume

Nick Kurtz already had three homers and five hits with his parents and godparents in attendance as he began his final at-bat.

Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz made history on Friday night as the first rookie to ever hit four home runs in an MLB game.

The Athletics rookie sensation's girlfriend is his Wake Forest college sweetheart that he likes to keep private. She keeps a low profile too.

Still holding a sizable lead for American League Rookie of the Year coming out of the All-Star break in MLB.com’s most recent poll last week, Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson may have just officially been overtaken by a new favorite -- his teammate Nick Kurtz.

Kristy McNichol-born Christina Ann McNichol in Los Angeles on September 11, 1962-hit it big as Letitia "Buddy" Lawrence on ABC's Family. The show ran from 1976 to 1980, and McNichol was just 13 when she landed the role. And right from the start, there was something about her performance that made people stop and take notice.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/athletics as Nick Kurtz is Charging His Way to Being Baseball's Best First Baseman.