This was becoming clear even before the four homer game. His OPS was .982, for crying out loud. He had homered seven times in his previous 16 games. The gasps and whispers had already started.

Nick Kurtz crushed six home runs over the last week and hit for a scorching .621 average, making him a top fantasy selection and a must-start in lineups.

Nick Kurtz of the Athletics has become the first rookie in Major League Baseball history to hit four home runs in a game.