Kurtz (thumb) began a hitting progression Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Kurtz has already been ruled out for the rest of the 2026 season due to a right thumb strain, but the fact that he's begun to swing a bat is an encouraging development for his availability at the start of the 2027 campaign. Manager Mark Kotsay said that if everything goes according to plan, Kurtz may be cleared to take batting practice before the end of the year.