Barely a year after being drafted, Jacob Wilson ready to make impact for Oakland A’s

OAKLAND — As he stood on the warning track that runs parallel to the third-base dugout, Jack Wilson couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sensation of nostalgia as he saw his son, Jacob, decked out in Oakland A’s paraphernalia.

Jack cycled through the memories. The first time Jacob caught a ball. The first time Jacob hit a ball. The times that Jacob hit on major-league fields in front of Jack’s major-league teammates while harboring his own major-league ambitions.

For Jacob, having earned his first call-up barely a year after being drafted, those dreams are no longer dreams.

“It’s a great feeling to be here, to be able to step on this field — for real, this time,” Jacob said before the A’s opened the second half of the season against the Angels on Friday night at the Coliseum. “Last year, it was just (batting practice) just as a signee coming out of the draft. Now that we’re here, for real, it’s pretty phenomenal looking around and being in the stadium.”

It wasn’t too long ago that Jacob was beginning his professional journey.

On July 9, 2023, the A’s selected Jacob with the sixth overall pick in the MLB Draft. He signed eight days later, and as is custom for position players, participated in batting practice at the Coliseum.

A year and change later, Jacob, once again, took pregame swings on the same field — this time as a major leaguer.

Jacob, who was on the lineup card to bat eighth and start at shortstop, said that making it to the majors in a year’s time was always the ideal path but admitted he didn’t know if that plan would come to reality. He did his part to accelerate his path to Oakland, hitting .401 in 72 career minor-league games while totaling more multi-hit games (33) than strikeouts (24).

The 22-year-old Wilson began this season with Double-A Midland, where he slashed .455/.473/.705 over 22 games. Upon earning a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas, Jacob had a slash line of .398/.444/.639 in 19 games, totaling more walks (seven) than strikeouts (three). He headed into the All-Star Break with a .438 batting average at the highest two levels of the minors, and the A’s decided he was in need of a greater challenge.

“We’re excited about having him, giving him this opportunity,” said manager Mark Kotsay. “The success he’s had throughout the minor leagues … has been exceptional. It’s the reward. We talk about it a lot in this organization: you go out and perform, you’re going to get that opportunity. He’s done that. He’s getting his chance tonight.”

Jacob found out the news while driving home on Wednesday, describing it as “the greatest feeling you can get as a baseball player.” In turn, he began calling his family and friends, his first call being to his father.

Jack, the manager of the Greeneville Flyboys of the Appalachian League and a veteran of parts of 12 seasons in the majors, was putting his lineup card together when the call came through.

“He was trying to be all sly about it, then kind of threw it in there,” said Jack, an All-Star with the Pirates in 2004. “He was like, ‘Are you guys going on your road trip?’ I said, ‘Yeah, we leave tomorrow.’ He’s like, ‘Well, you’re not going to make it because you’re going to Oakland.’ It was pretty cool.

“Then, I kind of freaked out and cried a little bit, but it was a special moment.”

Added Jacob: “It’s pretty awesome just being able to have him in my corner. I have a great family, a great support staff. They support me like crazy.”

Jacob will receive plenty of opportunities to bring stability to a position that has seen a rotating cast of characters since Marcus Semien departed in free agency.

Since 2021, the A’s have used 15 players at shortstop. Entering Friday, that group has posted a collective .599 OPS and 3.5 WAR (as calculated by FanGraphs), the second and fourth-worst in baseball, respectively.

Max Schuemann, 27, took over the job after Opening Day starter Nick Allen was demoted to Triple-A, playing 59 games at the position while hitting .245 with a .686 OPS, five home runs and nine steals. With Wilson in the mix, Schuemann, starting at third base on Friday and hitting ninth, will now return to more of a utility role. Along with playing shortstop, Schuemann has seen time at second base, third base, left field, center field and right field in the minors.

“(Kotsay) called me last night to break the news to me,” Schuemann said. “I’m going to take the news and run with it.”