Nick Kurtz likely to miss remainder of season with thumb injury

Oakland Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz is likely to miss the remainder of the baseball season due to a right thumb injury. Following a platelet-rich plasma injection on August 4, manager Mark Kotsay stated that Kurtz’s thumb will be immobilized in a brace for four weeks.

Kurtz, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year, has struggled with thumb pain since mid-July. After a brief return from an initial thumb capsule sprain, his offensive production declined significantly; he hit just .114 in 49 plate appearances between early July and his recent injury.

Before the injury, Kurtz was performing at an elite level, recording 21 home runs and 69 RBIs. His absence coincides with a period of struggle for the Athletics, who have gone 9-34 since mid-June.