The “Choo-Choo Train” proved a formidable hurdle.
Nick Kurtz (Athletics) batted second in Oakland’s home game against the Seattle Mariners at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on May 27 (Korean time). Kurtz did not reach base in the contest.
Entering the game, Kurtz had reached base in 48 consecutive games, tying the Athletics’ club record set by Mark McGwire in 1996.
That streak is the longest single-season on-base run since Shin-Soo Choo reached base in 52 straight games for the Texas Rangers in 2018.
Last month, Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) reached base in 53 consecutive games, but that streak carried over from the previous season.
The MLB record for consecutive games reaching base is 84, set by Ted Williams in 1949.
Kurtz, last year’s American League Rookie of the Year, has emerged as one of the game’s top young players. Scouts praise his plate discipline, contact skills and power. This season he leads MLB in on-base percentage (.437) and walks (52), and he’s tied for 10th in RBIs with 37.
By Hae-won Oh
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