Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker Take Batting Practice

· Yahoo Sports

The stated goal for Nick Kurtz before the end of the season has been to get him in the cage for some batting practice and get him into the offseason without any worries about his thumb injury. Before Wednesday's game, that became a reality.

"For Kurtz it was just flips," Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. "He begged to come take BP off me, which I wouldn't blame him. My BP is pretty exceptional," he said with a smile. "Nick obviously getting the rust off. The biggest thing was that he felt no pain, no discomfort."

Kurtz ended up playing 99 games with the A's this season, batting .256 with a .396 OBP and an .879 OPS. 

Brent Rooker was also part of this two man batting practice, and Kotsay said that this progression made the A's DH really happy. "I could see the joy in his face," Kotsay said.  

Rooker has been out of action since June 12 and had surgery on his left knee on July 17 to debride an articular cartilage tear and remove loose bodies, ending his season. He finished the 2026 season batting an uncharacteristic .200 with a .281 OBP and a .670 OPS across 48 games. He notably played in every game during the 2025 campaign. 

The goal of this session wasn't to gear them up for hitting the field and playing in games any time soon, but to just get them into a regular offseason routine where they don't have to worry as much about the rehab process in the coming months. 

The third pitch that Kurtz saw flew to the warning track and bounced over the wall in center, making a loud clank off the batter's eye. Once Rooker got into a groove, he too was launching balls all around Sutter Health Park. 

Springs Set For Final Start

Left-hander Jeffrey Springs could be making his final start with the A's on Wednesday night, with a $15 million team option the club will have to make a decision on this offseason.

Springs has gone 4-14 this season with a 6.18 ERA (5.93 FIP) and has allowed 33 home runs this season, third-most in baseball behind Aaron Nola and Shota Imanaga who have each allowed 34. 

While his season hasn't been sterling, a number of younger pitchers on the staff have named him directly as a beneficial resource for them in their development. 

"One thing that's always been consistent is that he takes the ball, goes out, and wants to pitch," Kotsay said. "I know he feels personally responsible for some of the lack of success we've had this year, and to his credit, he's taken that accountability."

The A's skipper said that his struggles haven't been from a lack of effort or trying to make adjustments, but sometimes that's just baseball. He also mentioned that when the A's acquired him following the 2024 season, the club was unsure of how Sutter Health Park would play, and that they have found out the park doesn't necessarily favor fly-ball pitchers. 

"I'm hoping tonight, if it is his last start with us, he goes out and has one of the best starts of his career," Kotsay said. 

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