Nick Kurtz limps through early damage after being hit by pitch, raising fresh bullpen questions for Oakland

Nick Kurtz’s return to the mound for the Oakland Athletics lasted less than a week before the left side of his pitching arm and hand became a new concern. In the bottom of the first inning of Wednesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox at Sutter Health Park, Kurtz faced left-hander Patrick Sandoval when he was struck on the left hand/forearm area by a pitch.

The Athletics reliever, who had already just come back from an injured list stint, was forced to manage the immediate aftermath of the hit during the early stages of the inning. The club’s immediate next steps would typically revolve around determining whether the forearm contusion is safe enough to continue or whether it requires a fresh medical and roster review.

Kurtz’s situation arrives at a difficult time for any bullpen, where timing and availability can swing quickly from one appearance to the next. Even when a hit-by-pitch does not produce any clear structural damage, a contusion to the forearm or hand can alter grip, ball control, and the ability to repeatedly throw with the same mechanics, especially for pitchers whose deliveries rely on fine feel and consistency.

For Oakland, the stakes of a reliever’s forearm or hand health go beyond one outing. Kurtz’s role in the late-inning mix means each additional day off the mound can change how the Athletics allocate their leverage arms, manage innings, and handle matchups that depend on specific pitch types. When a pitcher is coming off a prior health-related absence, teams also tend to be cautious, knowing that rushed or imperfect recovery can prolong the process.

The injury episode was reported as a forearm contusion after the hit by pitch, with Kurtz facing Sandoval at the time. Because the incident occurred in the game’s first frame, it set up a rapid decision point, both for the current inning and for the broader question of whether Kurtz would be available again soon. The report also emphasized that “another stint” could be possible, indicating that the Athletics and Kurtz’s medical staff were likely weighing whether a return to the injured list procedures would be necessary.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, were in the middle of an early-inning confrontation that did not end with the lineup needing to adjust around a long bullpen spell. Still, the play itself highlighted how quickly game plans can get interrupted for pitchers, particularly those returning from earlier downtime. Sandoval’s appearance was only part of the larger picture, but it placed Kurtz in the path of a pitch that landed in a vulnerable spot.

What to watch next is whether Kurtz can resume normal throwing without aggravating the contusion, and whether Oakland’s bullpen needs to reshuffle roles in the days following Wednesday’s game. If the team treats this as a forearm/hand issue severe enough to limit throwing, expect the Athletics to cover the immediate innings while preparing a longer-term plan for bullpen usage and matchup protection. For fans, the most practical indicator will be how Oakland describes Kurtz’s status and whether he is able to progress toward another return timeline without setbacks.