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- Rookie Nick Kurtz hits stunning grand slam and longest MLB home run in more than two years</p>
<p>Issy Ronald, CNNSeptember 14, 2025 at 5:05 AM</p>
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<p>Nick Kurtz celebrates his 493-foot grand slam. - Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images</p>
<p>When Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning on Saturday, he was in an uncharacteristic slump and 0-4 for the game. The bases were loaded and the A's had a slender two-run lead over the Cincinnati Reds when Kurtz took his swing, crushing a 91.9mph fastball out to center field.</p>
<p>The ball left his bat at 114.6 mph (184.4 km/h) and sailed 493 feet for the longest home run in Major League Baseball since Shohei Ohtani hit one the same distance more than two years ago, a stunning grand slam that sealed an 11-5 victory for the A's.</p>
<p>The list of records goes on. It was the longest grand slam and longest A's homer since Statcast began tracking data in 2015 as well as the joint third-longest homer by a rookie under Statcast, behind only two from a certain Aaron Judge.</p>
<p>"I really can't speak any more about Nick," A's manager Mark Kotsay told reporters after the game. "I don't know if there's words that can describe that at-bat."</p>
<p>Nick Kurtz has hit 31 homers so far in his rookie season. - Dennis Lee/Imagn Images/Reuters</p>
<p>It was yet another impressive landmark for the 22-year-old slugger who has hit 31 homers so far this year and became the first MLB rookie ever to hit four home runs in a single game earlier this season.</p>
<p>Already, Kotsay is comparing the way Kurtz strikes a baseball to the way that Hall of Famers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco did, albeit "in a different era," Kotsay added, chuckling.</p>
<p>Such power comes from the explosive force Kurtz is able to leverage from his 6-foot-5 height, Kotsay added, per MLB.</p>
<p>"Once he hits the baseball, makes contact, it's almost like he comes off the ground," Kotsay said. "I think that's what really has given Nick the power that he has."</p>
<p>Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Brewers became the first team to secure their playoff spot after the New York Mets were defeated 3-2 by the Texas Rangers, meaning that the Brewers were guaranteed at least a National League wild card.</p>
<p>The Brewers celebrated in typical fashion, overcoming a five-run deficit to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-8 in 10 innings before enjoying a champagne toast.</p>
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