Oakland Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz saw his remarkable 20-game walk streak come to an end Saturday. The streak, tied for the second-longest in modern MLB history, concluded in a 14-6 loss to the Cleveland Guardians at Sutter Health Park.
In West Sacramento, Kurtz went 2-for-5 without drawing a walk during the Athletics' defeat. His streak had tied Barry Bonds' mark from 2002-03, reached with a walk in Friday's series opener. Just two games shy of Roy Cullenbine's 1947 record of 22, Kurtz instead delivered an RBI single with the bases loaded in the eighth inning on a 100.6 mph line drive through the right side, his 16th RBI of the season. He also singled in his first at-bat on a 109.2 mph grounder up the middle, extending his on-base streak to 27 games, the longest active in the majors, while striking out twice and flying out once. The streak began on April 10 against the Mets at Citi Field, where Kurtz walked twice off Clay Holmes. During the 20 games, he drew 25 walks in 94 plate appearances, including four multi-walk games such as three against the White Sox on April 18. Entering 2026 as the 2025 AL Rookie of the Year, Kurtz holds a .243/.416/.417 slash line with five home runs and leads MLB with 34 walks, ahead of Mike Trout's 32.
