A sellout crowd of 10,747 fans packed Las Vegas Ballpark, which technically only has a rated capacity of 10,000, to watch the A’s, currently based in Sacramento, lose the first game of the weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels, 3-1. To be fair, as is typical among the Las Vegas crowd, that number also included a fair amount of rival jerseys.
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With a young, dynamic core that includes 2025 American League Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, $70 million shortstop Jacob Wilson and former Aviator fan favorite Lawrence Butler, the A’s are poised to be a legitimate force in the American League right as they open their doors on the Strip. When they were in town for Major League Baseball weekend a year ago, there was still a lot of skepticism about the viability of both the franchise’s move to Las Vegas and the core of players they were bringing with them.
Now, after a promising 79-win campaign and the opening of their new stadium in 2025, it seems like the center and the city will meet at the perfect time.
“I think last year really set the tone for us as an organization,” Kotsay said. “By revealing the fact that we were here, that the stadium was started, obviously it feels like you’re getting closer with the progress that’s been made. I think coming here and seeing it makes you feel like it’s definitely closer.”
While Kurtz and company will almost certainly be centerpieces of the inaugural roster in Las Vegas, a player like 22-year-old starting pitcher Gage Jump is just trying to prove that he belongs on the MLB roster. If Saturday was Jump’s first impression in his future home, he certainly did well, allowing one hit and one run in 3.2 innings pitched. Even if in his eyes everything was the same as always.
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“It was really cool (to play in front of this crowd),” Jump said. “First time here, first time in Vegas, so I took it all in, but there was a good crowd today. It was amazing… (but) I try to treat every game as equal, with or without a crowd.”
Feel at home
Baseball aside, the A’s organization picked the perfect weekend to come to town if they’re trying to sell their players on the prospect of playing in Las Vegas long-term. Not long after the players left the stadium and boarded the team buses, the UFC 326 card headlined by Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira began at T-Mobile Arena.
Based on manager Mark Kotsay’s comments before the game, it looks like some of the guys could find themselves in contention. But not Kotsay. He bought a house in nearby Henderson in 2025 and is enjoying the brief time back at his base before the season.
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“What I’m excited about is that I’m home. I can go home and just relax,” Kotsay said. “UFC, the entertainment, that side of Las Vegas is definitely exciting. It’s part of the community. You can watch a major league game in the afternoon, go see one of the best UFC fights up to this point in 2026, which I know some guys are excited about. That’s the advantage of living here. You have access to amazing entertainment and food.”