Draft
Courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics

2024 MLB Draft Profile: Nick Kurtz

By / / 2024 MLB Draft, Minors
NAME: Nick Kurtz
SCHOOL: Wake Forest University
POSITION: First Baseman
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-4, 235 pounds
B/T: L/L
D.O.B: 3/12/2003
PREVIOUSLY DRAFTED: Never

Draft Scouting Report

When scouts compare you to a Hall of Famer with 600 home runs, that must mean you’re doing something right. If you squint hard enough, you can see a little bit of Jim Thome in Nick Kurtz. Open your eyes fully and that comparison might become clearer. Both are mammoth sized first basemen with just as much power as anyone, on top of having some of the best plate discipline for a player of their size. While Kurtz might not reach the heights Thome did, there’s a lot to love with Kurtz. It’s a prototypical middle of the order bat, and one that could move quickly throughout the system.

Kurtz courtesy of the ACC Network

Kurtz has been an impact bat in the Wake Forest lineup since the day he stepped on campus, posting an 1.108 OPS across 54 games as a true freshman for the Demon Deacons. More importantly, however, he drew 48 walks and only struck out 38 times. That would be the worst number of Kurtz’ college career, as he posted 63:50 and 78:42 BB:K ratios over the next two seasons. His 30% walk rate led all of Division I hitters in 2024, and his 161 career walks top the Wake Forest career leader boards. Only 2023 Brewers first round pick Brock Wilken has more home runs in a Demon Deacons uniform.

When it comes to raw power, Kurtz might rival anyone in the class. Consistently hitting balls 110+, with enormous bat speed. Those don’t come at the sacrifice of bat to ball either, as it’s around average, perhaps a tick above average. But the calling card for Nick Kurtz is fantastic plate discipline with double-plus power. He’s everything you’d want in a first basemen if you’re going to draft one inside the top 5.

Kurtz is no slouch on the other side of the ball, either. He’s gotten average to above average grades on his defense, depending on where you look. There’s a mixed opinion on whether he can play left field, but seeing as he’s spent every game in the last two years at first base, he’s almost sure to be a first baseman going forward. I’m sure White Sox fans have had enough of playing a first baseman in the outfield, as well.

When looking at draft rankings, Kurtz is near the top of almost every list. He was inside the top three on preseason lists, but injuries hampered him for the first month of the season. Today, Kurtz is still ranking among the best players on boards, with his highest spot being 7th on MLB Pipeline. The slugging first baseman is in the 8-11 range on most boards, which is still in play for the White Sox.

Why Would The White Sox Draft Nick Kurtz?

Let’s be honest. The Andrew Vaughn era hasn’t been what we thought it would be, and should probably be coming to a close soon. Whether that be at the trade deadline or in the off-season, the chances of Vaughn being the 2025 Opening Day first baseman aren’t looking too hot. The first base throne has been barren since Jose Abreu left, and drafting Nick Kurtz could give the White Sox a rightful heir to the throne. Kurtz is the type of bat who should move quickly throughout the minor league system, and could potentially be in Chicago in the 2025 season.

The White Sox system also has a very glaring need for impact bats, and Kurtz would slide into that role perfectly. When you look at quality of contact stats, and pair them with plate discipline stats, Kurtz is routinely near the top of boards. He’s not in poor company either, as Charlie Condon, Travis Bazzana and JJ Wetherholt are all with him. Those are three of the most polished and sought after bats in the class. The only difference between that trio and Kurtz is the ability to play a premium position.

Draft
Mike Shirley via White Sox Zoom

One would assume that drafting Kurtz would be an under slot deal for the White Sox, especially given which clubs he’s been connected to. If the White Sox are set on drafting a college bat and Jac Caglianone is off the board, Nick Kurtz could be the pick. He would almost certainly give them some financial flexibility in the later rounds, something that we’ve seen Mike Shirley do recently. There’s not a number associated with Kurtz as of now, but saving around $800,000 could be the difference between coercing someone who would go in the pick 25-35 range to take a deal and go at pick 43.

Mock Drafts

FutureSox’s own James Fox mocked Nick Kurtz to Washington at 10th overall in his Mock Draft 3.0. Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline has Kurtz falling all the way to the Detroit Tigers at #11 in his latest iteration. Joe Doyle and Future Stars Series had the hulking first baseman landing in Anaheim at the 8th overall pick. The highest Kurtz has been mocked is in Prospects Live’s mock draft, where the Wake Forest 1B went to the Rockies at 3rd overall. Carlos Collazo of Baseball America projected the first baseman to the San Francisco Giants in his latest. Final mocks are expected from every major publication at some point this week.