Nick Kurtz had quietly been one of the most exciting players in baseball since his arrival. On Friday night against the Houston Astros, he turned up the volume

Kurtz didn’t make an out all night. He became the first rookie in major league history to hit four home runs in a game and matched the MLB record for total bases with 19. “It’s arguably the best game I’ve ever watched from a single player,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “This kid continues to have jaw-dropping moments.”