Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz delivers an RBI single in his MLB debut against the Rangers

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Rookie Nick Kurtz needed just one plate appearance for his first major league hit and RBI.

Kurtz singled up the middle on a 1-2 pitch from Kumar Rocker in the first inning Wednesday night, scoring Shea Langeliers from second base and giving the Athletics a 3-0 lead against Texas. His dad was caught on camera waving the runner home.

It was quite a debut for the fourth overall pick in last year's amateur draft. Kurtz also awkwardly tripped over the mound while trying to catch a popup but stayed in the game.

He batted seventh and played first base in his MLB debut. He finished 1 for 4 at the plate with a strikeout in a 5-2 victory.

The former Wake Forest standout's deal included a $7 million bonus. The A’s promoted him ahead of Wednesday's game.

Kurtz became the third player from the 2024 draft to debut after Houston outfielder Cam Smith and Los Angeles Angels right-hander Ryan Johnson made opening-day rosters. Smith was the 14th overall pick and Johnson 74th.

Kurtz started last year at Class A Stockton and was promoted to Double-A Midland. He hit .321 with seven homers, 24 RBIs and 10 walks in 20 games this season for Triple-A Las Vegas.

Kurtz’s 2024 season was cut short by a hamstring injury; he played 13 games in the Arizona Fall League.

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Athletics Nick Kurtz (16) get his first career major league hit against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics Nick Kurtz (16) celebrates his first career major league hit against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics Nick Kurtz (16) celebrates his first career major league hit against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics Nick Kurtz runs to first for his first career major league hit against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz waits for the pitch against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics Nick Kurtz (16) celebrates his first career major league hit against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)