Former Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto believes Oakland Athletics outfielder Nick Kurtz has the tools to become the best hitter in baseball. Votto shared his views during a Tuesday appearance on MLB Now.
Votto compared Kurtz to established stars like Yordan Alvarez while noting the 23-year-old's rapid progress. He prefers evaluating players over three-year periods rather than single seasons.
The A's slugger currently posts a 159 wRC+ and leads the majors in walk rate. Kurtz has shown strong power after an early-season adjustment period.
“I see a guy who has a chance to be the best hitter in the game,” Votto said. “I see a guy who has a chance to be one of those special hitters during a generation.”
Votto praised Kurtz's patience, bat speed and ability to hit from both sides of the plate. He identified only a high strikeout rate as a potential drawback.