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.

Kurtz didn’t make an out all night. He became the first rookie in major league history to hit four home runs in a game and matched the MLB record for total bases with 19. “It’s arguably the best game I’ve ever watched from a single player,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “This kid continues to have jaw-dropping moments.”