Nick Kurtz Bats Leadoff in Spring Debut, Manager Considers Future Role

Nick Kurtz made his spring debut, going 0-for-3 while batting leadoff in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Guardians. Despite the hitless outing, there's a real possibility the slugger could secure the leadoff role for the 2026 campaign. Manager Mark Kotsay expressed his preference for getting the team's best hitter the most at-bats, noting, "My opinion, getting the best hitter on the team the most amount of at-bats is productive." Kotsay likes the idea of Kurtz leading off, though the order isn't solidified.