​CHICAGO (AP) — Nick Kurtz, the Athletics’ dynamic slugger who was poised to start at first base for the American League in next week’s All-Star Game, has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right thumb sprain. The official move is retroactive to Friday, and Kurtz did not take the field in Oakland’s lopsided 14-1 defeat to the White Sox in Chicago.
In a corresponding maneuver, Oakland recalled catcher Brian Serven from Triple-A Las Vegas prior to Saturday’s game against Chicago. Neither Kurtz nor Athletics manager Mark Kotsay were made available for comment by reporters.
Kurtz is hitting .266 with 20 home runs, 66 RBIs, and a league-leading 76 walks this season. The 23-year-old force is coming off a standout year, having earned American League Rookie of the Year honors last season after batting .290 with 36 homers and 86 RBIs. His placement on the injured list marks the second time in his career that he has landed on the IL; he previously missed time in May 2025 due to a strained left hip flexor.
Meanwhile, Brian Serven’s major-league journey has been a mix of limited opportunities and notable moments. Across parts of four seasons, Serven has compiled a .188 career batting average with six home runs and 20 RBIs. This year, in Las Vegas, he has shown more promise: in 55 games, he is batting .308 with 18 doubles, seven home runs, and 41 RBIs, underscoring his potential value as a depth option within Oakland’s organization.
The situational roster adjustments come at a critical juncture for the Athletics, who are navigating a season of ups and downs while Kurtz, a former Rookie of the Year, charts a path through injuries and his ongoing recovery. With the All-Star break in sight, the team will rely on Serven’s catching depth and Kurtz’s return to form to reestablish offensive momentum as they push to maintain pace in a competitive AL landscape.
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