Oakland Athletics' Youth Movement brings hope ahead of 2028 Las Vegas move
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Aug 04, 2025, 22:59 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Oakland Athletics are hopeful for their future. The team is relocating to Las Vegas by 2028. Rookie Nick Kurtz is performing well. He is a potential franchise cornerstone. Other young players like Jacob Wilson and Shea Langeliers are also contributing. The team is focusing on improving its pitching. Manager Mark Kotsay is leading the team through this transition.
As the Oakland Athletics navigate a turbulent transition period, the emergence of rookie sensation Nick Kurtz and a promising crop of young talent is giving the franchise and its fans renewed hope for the future—particularly as the team eyes a long-term home in Las Vegas by 2028.
Kurtz, 22, has quickly become the centerpiece of the Athletics’ rebuild and is currently the front-runner for American League Rookie of the Year. His historic performance on July 25, when he went 6-for-6 with four home runs and eight RBIs against the Houston Astros, tied a major league record with 19 total bases and signaled his arrival as a potential franchise cornerstone.
Even veteran teammates have embraced Kurtz’s rise, wearing “Nick Kurtz goes yard” shirts around the clubhouse. “It’s the moment you dream about as a kid,” Kurtz said. “I just try to stay calm and trust my process.”
Though currently sitting at the bottom of the AL West with a 49-65 record, the A’s are building a core they believe can be competitive when they debut in Las Vegas. The team began playing in Sacramento this season, its temporary home for three years until the planned opening of a new stadium in Nevada.
“The years 2026 and 2027 are important, but a lot of our internal conversations are about what the team will look like in 2028,” said general manager David Forst. “You can see it in the contracts we’ve signed—with our manager, with Brent Rooker, and with Lawrence Butler.”
Rooker, a 30-year-old All-Star designated hitter, signed a five-year, $60 million deal earlier this year. Butler, a 25-year-old outfielder known for his speed and defense, inked a seven-year, $65.5 million contract. Both are viewed as essential pieces of the A’s long-term vision.
Joining Kurtz in the youth movement are shortstop Jacob Wilson, who had been the second-favorite for Rookie of the Year before suffering a broken forearm, and catcher Shea Langeliers. Wilson made history this year as the first fan-elected rookie shortstop to the All-Star Game.
The club also bolstered its farm system ahead of the trade deadline. Oakland acquired 18-year-old shortstop Leo De Vries—ranked the No. 3 overall prospect by MLB.com—in a deal that sent flamethrowing closer Mason Miller to San Diego. Additional pitching prospects, including Kenya Huggins and recent call-up Luis Morales, are being groomed to address the team’s most pressing need: reliable arms.
“Our struggles this year have come largely from the pitching side,” Forst said. “When we’ve gotten consistency on the mound, that’s when we’ve seen the best version of this team.”
In the 2025 draft, the A’s selected Florida State left-hander Jamie Arnold with the 11th overall pick, further signaling their intent to build a more complete roster.
Manager Mark Kotsay, who signed a contract extension through 2028 with an option for 2029, has led the team through a challenging chapter. Once a player himself for the organization, Kotsay is now tasked with unifying a young roster amid uncertainty surrounding the franchise’s relocation and fan frustration in Oakland.
“I think he's got one of the tougher jobs in baseball right now,” said Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “There’s so much uncertainty … he’s done a fantastic job. He’s the perfect guy for that organization.”
Despite a prolonged slump earlier in the season—when the A’s dropped 20 of 21 games—the team has shown signs of progress, recently winning seven of their last 10 games. Kotsay remains focused on cultivating a culture of competitiveness.
“In terms of our vision, the talent is starting to show,” Kotsay said. “The players are continuing to improve and showing that we can play the game at an elite level.”
Whether ownership breaks with tradition and retains its young core remains to be seen. The A’s have long been known for trading away rising stars before they command higher salaries. However, with a move to a lucrative Las Vegas market on the horizon, there may be added incentive for owner John Fisher to invest in a winning roster.
“We’ve got a lot of young players,” Butler said. “When a team calls up young players, they might not be ready, but I feel like all our guys are. They’ve shown they can compete at this level.”
As the franchise prepares for a pivotal new chapter, the Athletics’ young stars are offering a glimpse of what could be a promising future—one that Las Vegas fans may soon get to experience firsthand.
Kurtz, 22, has quickly become the centerpiece of the Athletics’ rebuild and is currently the front-runner for American League Rookie of the Year. His historic performance on July 25, when he went 6-for-6 with four home runs and eight RBIs against the Houston Astros, tied a major league record with 19 total bases and signaled his arrival as a potential franchise cornerstone.
Even veteran teammates have embraced Kurtz’s rise, wearing “Nick Kurtz goes yard” shirts around the clubhouse. “It’s the moment you dream about as a kid,” Kurtz said. “I just try to stay calm and trust my process.”
Though currently sitting at the bottom of the AL West with a 49-65 record, the A’s are building a core they believe can be competitive when they debut in Las Vegas. The team began playing in Sacramento this season, its temporary home for three years until the planned opening of a new stadium in Nevada.
“The years 2026 and 2027 are important, but a lot of our internal conversations are about what the team will look like in 2028,” said general manager David Forst. “You can see it in the contracts we’ve signed—with our manager, with Brent Rooker, and with Lawrence Butler.”
Rooker, a 30-year-old All-Star designated hitter, signed a five-year, $60 million deal earlier this year. Butler, a 25-year-old outfielder known for his speed and defense, inked a seven-year, $65.5 million contract. Both are viewed as essential pieces of the A’s long-term vision.
Joining Kurtz in the youth movement are shortstop Jacob Wilson, who had been the second-favorite for Rookie of the Year before suffering a broken forearm, and catcher Shea Langeliers. Wilson made history this year as the first fan-elected rookie shortstop to the All-Star Game.
The club also bolstered its farm system ahead of the trade deadline. Oakland acquired 18-year-old shortstop Leo De Vries—ranked the No. 3 overall prospect by MLB.com—in a deal that sent flamethrowing closer Mason Miller to San Diego. Additional pitching prospects, including Kenya Huggins and recent call-up Luis Morales, are being groomed to address the team’s most pressing need: reliable arms.
“Our struggles this year have come largely from the pitching side,” Forst said. “When we’ve gotten consistency on the mound, that’s when we’ve seen the best version of this team.”
In the 2025 draft, the A’s selected Florida State left-hander Jamie Arnold with the 11th overall pick, further signaling their intent to build a more complete roster.
Manager Mark Kotsay, who signed a contract extension through 2028 with an option for 2029, has led the team through a challenging chapter. Once a player himself for the organization, Kotsay is now tasked with unifying a young roster amid uncertainty surrounding the franchise’s relocation and fan frustration in Oakland.
“I think he's got one of the tougher jobs in baseball right now,” said Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “There’s so much uncertainty … he’s done a fantastic job. He’s the perfect guy for that organization.”
Despite a prolonged slump earlier in the season—when the A’s dropped 20 of 21 games—the team has shown signs of progress, recently winning seven of their last 10 games. Kotsay remains focused on cultivating a culture of competitiveness.
“In terms of our vision, the talent is starting to show,” Kotsay said. “The players are continuing to improve and showing that we can play the game at an elite level.”
Whether ownership breaks with tradition and retains its young core remains to be seen. The A’s have long been known for trading away rising stars before they command higher salaries. However, with a move to a lucrative Las Vegas market on the horizon, there may be added incentive for owner John Fisher to invest in a winning roster.
“We’ve got a lot of young players,” Butler said. “When a team calls up young players, they might not be ready, but I feel like all our guys are. They’ve shown they can compete at this level.”
As the franchise prepares for a pivotal new chapter, the Athletics’ young stars are offering a glimpse of what could be a promising future—one that Las Vegas fans may soon get to experience firsthand.