The 2024 MLB Draft got underway Sunday night in Fort Worth, Texas, coinciding with the rest of MLB’s All-Star break in the Dallas area.
With the fourth overall pick in the draft, the Oakland Athletics selected Nick Kurtz, a first baseman from Wake Forest who is a two-time member of the All-ACC first team. It is, by many accounts, a great pick for Oakland.
With the fourth pick of the 2024 #MLBDraft, the @Athletics select 1B Nick Kurtz from Wake Forest. pic.twitter.com/Vu9OqIqPm8
— MLB (@MLB) July 14, 2024
Almost immediately upon hearing the pick, however, some on social media pointed out that the player’s name could prove tricky for broadcasters.
That’s quite the name. Will be fun for the announcers to say for sure https://t.co/RTX31Udz0B
— DavidB (@david_brelsford) July 14, 2024
MLB announcers having to pronounce his name pic.twitter.com/O0m23kKWq3
— Jargo (@Jargo26) July 14, 2024
unfortunate name https://t.co/GjV2BQ5GW2
— David (@WHOWASONCRACK) July 14, 2024
It’s the second time in as many months that a player’s name has drawn attention for sounding dangerously close to a slur. After Eastern Michigan football got a commitment from Noah Knigga, EMU play-by-play announcer Tom Helmer said he had already been working hard to learn how to pronounce the name correctly.
Kurtz was the second Wake Forest player selected the top five of the draft, as the Cincinnati Reds selected Demon Deacons pitcher Caleb Burns second overall.
[MLB]
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