Nick Kurtz will start for the American League after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opted out because of a lower back issue. The Athletics first baseman, nicknamed “Big Amish,” has surged this season with 20 home runs and a .939 OPS.
A few minutes after the American League rosters were announced, the All-Star spotlight shifted. Nick Kurtz was penciled in as the AL starter for what became an immediate change—triggered by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s decision to opt out of the game.
Guerrero, the Toronto Blue Jays star and a defending AL champion’s ballot winner, told reporters he needs to prioritize getting past a lower back issue. The withdrawal opened the door for Kurtz to assume the starting position.
Kurtz’s start has a built-in hometown storyline. He grew up about 90 minutes from Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park and carries the nickname “Big Amish.” At 23. he’s already moved from prospect status into major league production fast enough to make this All-Star opportunity feel like a turning point rather than a fluke.
He arrived in the majors with an immediate impact after making his debut on April 23, 2025. But his rise landed after the All-Star voting window closed during his Rookie of the Year season, when his dominance of major league pitching came too late to earn him a spot.
This year is different. Kurtz has hit 20 home runs and posted a .939 OPS for the Athletics, who are in the second of three seasons playing in West Sacramento’s Yolo County before the franchise moves to Las Vegas.
Guerrero. meanwhile. still held off Kurtz for the starting role when the ballots were counted—despite a slower start at Rogers Centre. The source figures make the contrast clear: Guerrero has yet to hit a home run at Rogers Centre this season. and the numbers didn’t line up to justify the position on performance alone. Even so, the Blue Jays received massive support at the ballot box, and Guerrero’s popularity pushed him ahead.
After the decision to withdraw, the emotion in Guerrero’s message landed on the personal side of the sports calendar. “One of the hardest parts of not going,” he told reporters. “It’s very difficult for me. But I really have to take care of myself and I’ve got to put my team first for the second half.”.
The sequencing of the All-Star start makes the tension hard to miss: Guerrero’s reputation and ballot support won the job, but a lower back issue took it away. Kurtz’s production—arriving early enough this time—meant the replacement didn’t just fill a spot. It rewarded a player in stride.
For now, Kurtz’s All-Star start is both a sudden reward and, potentially, the beginning of a longer run. For Guerrero, it’s a reset—one that signals he’s willing to step back from the game so he can show up stronger later in the season.
Nick Kurtz Vladimir Guerrero Jr. AL All-Star starter Athletics Blue Jays lower back issue 20 home runs .939 OPS Major League Baseball All-Star rosters