WEST SACRAMENTO — Nick Kurtz has arrived in Northern California.

The Athletics’ top prospect and the No. 35 prospect in all of baseball was called up this week after dominating the first three weeks of the minor league season, and in turn has caused a shakeup at the big league level.

The 22-year-old Kurtz, who played at Triple-A to begin his season, is primarily a first baseman who has played a handful of innings in the outfield. Despite Turlock native Tyler Soderstrom settling into first base this year and experiencing a breakout campaign at the plate — heading into Tuesday with a .298 batting average, a team-high 1.005 OPS and an MLB-high nine home runs — Kurtz was too good to keep down on the farm. In 20 games in Las Vegas, the Pennsylvania native and No. 4 overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft slashed .321/.385/.655 while leading the minors with seven homers.

A’s general manager Dave Forst told reporters before Tuesday's series-opener against the Texas Rangers at Sutter Health Park that they’ll try to play Kurtz mostly at first base, and will try Soderstrom in left field. The fellow 22-year-old has taken pregame reps in the outfield over the last two weeks.

“It’s not every day you take your best hitter and ask him to move,” Forst told reporters over Zoom. “Tyler has been outstanding through the whole process… He has been adamant that, whatever we need from him, he’s willing to do.

“I think the first thing you’ll probably see is Tyler playing left and Nick playing first base.”

Soderstrom, who was drafted 26th overall out of Turlock High School as a catcher, has garnered early consideration for a Gold Glove this season with a .988 fielding percentage in 162 total chances at first base. The former Bulldog bats left but throws with his right arm, and has never appeared in the outfield as a professional. Speaking briefly after batting practice, the last time he could remember playing outside of the infield was in Little League, but reiterated that his priority is to help the youthful A’s win games and remain in the mix of the American League West.

Soderstrom’s willingness to be flexible has been praised by many in the organization. “The fact that Tyler has been so receptive and willing to do what’s best for the team has made this an easier decision to have Nick here now,” Forst continued.

Kurtz's promotion was first reported by MLB.com's Martin Gallegos on Monday. The left-handed slugger was in town Tuesday, fielding and taking batting practice with the team, though he will not officially be promoted until Wednesday morning since the A's faced left-handed starter Patrick Corbin.

Soderstrom began playing full-time at first base last season. This spring, with the possibility of Kurtz making the Opening Day roster, the Turlocker reported to camp with pitchers and catcher and appeared in Cactus League games behind the plate on numerous occasions, platooning with Shea Langeliers. 

“Tyler has been great,” said manager Mark Kotsay. “Tyler and I have had conversations (since) spring training when I asked him to get the (catcher’s) gear back on. And there was a possibility of him doing some backup catching, which he still can do, you know. But he’s been great through this process. A young man that's having a remarkable start to the season. And it's not, like Dave said, every day you ask one of your better hitters to make a position move during the season, but Tyler is fully open to doing that.”

“Tyler's an athlete. He's got a lot of athleticism. His speed is actually better than probably what your eyes tell you. So for him to go out there — and obviously this might take some time for him to get comfortable out there — we understand that we're going to be as patient as we can be. There will be a learning curve, for sure, as there always is.”

Another player impacted is Brent Rooker, who was awarded his first career Silver Slugger Award prior to Tuesday’s first pitch. Rooker has been the club’s primary designated hitter for the better part of the last two seasons, but has recently seen time in left field, as well.

“I don’t think it’ll take too much adjustment for me, personally,” Rooker said. “I think I've done both (DH and LF) enough at this point. I know what my routine is at either spot. I don't think there'll be much adjustment needed whichever way I end up going.”

The AL West is, indeed, wild to start the 2025 season.

The Athletics entered the Rangers series with a 10-12 record, including 2-7 in their new West Sacramento home. That leaves them in last place, a game and a half behind Seattle and Houston (12-11), as well as Los Angeles (11-10), and three games behind first-place Texas (13-9).

Ranger skipper Bruce Bochy praised the way the young A’s have developed over the last two seasons.

“Nice club, nice players. They play the game right,” Bochy told the Turlock Journal. “They’re a team that made a lot of noise last year. They just got better and better. Look at what they did in the second half (last season). I mean, they were playing with anybody. So, yeah, it’s going to be a tight division.”

The A’s, who last made the postseason in 2020, are banking on the added roster flexibility to be the key in catapulting them back into contention.