Just over a year after selecting shortstop Jacob Wilson with the sixth pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the A’s are reportedly calling him up to the majors.
Wilson, MLB Pipeline’s No. 50 overall prospect, will be in Oakland when the A’s open the second half of the season this weekend against the Angels, according to Martín Gallegos of MLB.com.
Wilson, the 22-year-old son of former All-Star shortstop Jack Wilson, has dominated at every level of the minors over his quick climb to the top of the A’s organization. Over 72 career minor-league games, Wilson has a .401 batting average over 311 plate appearances. For the next couple months, he’ll call the Oakland Coliseum home before the team’s departure to Sacramento.
After being drafted, Wilson had a .318 batting average last season and a .832 OPS in 23 games for High-A Lansing. He has only improved as the level of competition has increased.
Wilson began this season with Double-A Midland, where he posted an impressive slash line of .455/.473/.705 with three home runs before being promoted to Triple-A. In Las Vegas, he’s hitting .398 with a 1.083 OPS in 19 games, totaling more walks (seven) than strikeouts (three).
The A’s figure to give Wilson a long look at shortstop the remainder of the season.
Nick Allen, the A’s third-round pick in the 2017 draft, was the Opening Day starter and is an elite defender, but has been all-glove and no bat in parts of three seasons in the majors. He was sent to Triple-A in May after hitting .171 with an on-base percentage of .227.
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The A’s also have tried rookies Darell Hernaiz and Max Schuemann, and veteran Aledmys Díaz at shortstop this season, with similar outcomes offensively. A’s shortstops had a combined slash line of .204/.289/.277 entering the All-Star break.
Schuemann has started 56 games at shortstop and has been the most productive of the bunch at the plate, batting .245 with five home runs, but is likely better suited as a Chad Pinder-type super sub. The A’s also could move Schuemann to third base, where he is one of eight players the A’s have tried at that position this season.
There was not much more for Wilson to prove in the minors. After going 0 for 4 in his season debut on April 5 with Double-A Midland, Wilson had at least one hit in 38 of his past 45 games. He was hitless just once in 19 games since being promoted to Triple-A.
