Updated July 21, 2026, 12:51 a.m. ET
Making it to the big leagues is always a special feat, but nothing compares to hitting your first career home run. That special moment came in the second inning for the Athletics’ third baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer in his first plate appearance against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, July 20. Kuroda-Grauer approached the plate in the top of the second inning when he faced a 91-mph four-seam pitch from Mitch Bratt, who made his MLB debut just five days before Kuroda-Grauer. The A’s 23-year-old prospect took it yard, sending it back 416 feet across left-center field for a solo home run, the first in his major-league career.
Kuroda-Grauer was selected by the A’s with the 75th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft. He was called up from the Las Vegas Aviators on June 29 and has yet to look back. In his first 15 major-league games, Kuroda-Grauer has shown consistency and signs of a high-level slugger. He followed up his homer with a gutsy base hit, but not before he could demonstrate his grit and toughness. Kuroda-Grauer was back at the plate at the top of the fifth inning when he swung at a pitch that resulted in a foul ball. The ball ricocheted off his bat and straight down to his midsection, right below the waist. Yes, that tender area that is usually protected in baseball with a cup in the under garments.
Kuroda-Grauer was down for bit but bounced back to deliver a line drive to right-center for a single. Kuroda-Grauer was replaced defensively at third base by Donovan Walton in the bottom of the seventh inning, finishing with a batting line of 2-for-3 to push his batting average to .417. The Athletics won the game, 5-2. The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports’ newsletter.
