Nick Kurtz's dream of starting at first base for the American League in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game is officially on hold after the 23-year-old Athletics slugger landed on the 10-day injured list with a right thumb capsule sprain, retroactive to Friday. But in a wild twist of fate, his spot on the AL roster will now go to Chicago White Sox center fielder Tristan Peters, who just absolutely crushed it with a cycle on Friday night.
Kurtz's All-Star Dream on Ice
This is a brutal blow for Kurtz. The guy earned national acclaim early in his major-league career, exploding last year with an historic four-homer game that propelled his American League Rookie of the Year campaign. This season, he was finally getting his moment, set to be the AL's starting first baseman in the Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia. We're talking about the first A's player to start at first base in an All-Star Game since Jason Giambi way back in 2000, and that was only after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. turned down his selection! Now, he's sidelined due to a "right thumb capsule sprain" that manager Mark Kotsay revealed Kurtz had been "dealing with... for more than a few days." Brutal. To fill his roster spot, the A's recalled catcher Brian Serven from Triple-A Las Vegas.Peters' Epic Ascension
What a turn of events for Tristan Peters! This guy was already having a monster week, hitting for the cycle during an absolutely dominant 14-1 win over the A's on Friday night in Chicago. Now, not only is he a first-time All-Star, but he's joining two of his White Sox teammates, third baseman Miguel Vargas and first baseman Munetaka Murakami, on the AL roster. Talk about riding a hot streak straight into the All-Star Game. You can't write a better story than that.The A's Are a Wreck Right Now
While Peters is flying high, the Athletics are crashing hard. This team came into Saturday's game against the White Sox as losers of seven straight. Seriously, they were 36-36 at one point, and since then, they've gone a putrid 5-17. Losing Kurtz is just the latest kick when they're down. They also lost utility player Zack Gelof to the 10-day IL this week after he suffered a right knee laceration on Thursday, crashing into a side wall while making a highlight-reel grab during a 4-1 road loss to the Detroit Tigers. It's a complete mess out there. So, while Peters gets ready for his first All-Star appearance, the A's are just trying to stop the bleeding. They need to figure out how to get back on track and soon, because this team is spiraling fast.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.