Wilson’s lightning-quick promotion to the Athletics was his “ideal plan,” originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Athletics top prospect Jacob Wilson got the call every baseball player dreams of.
Wilson, exactly one year after being drafted sixth overall by the Athletics, will make his MLB debut on Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum.
Ahead of his major league debut, Wilson met with reporters and explained how he found out he was being traded from Triple-A Las Vegas to Oakland.
“I was actually driving home with my girlfriend around noon on Wednesday,” Wilson told reporters, “and I got the call. I answered, we had a nice conversation and, of course, they told me I was coming here. So, I think it was the best call you could get as a baseball player, the best feeling you could get.”
“So it was really emotional. And then I got to call all my family and friends afterwards, which was really special.”
The son of former MLB infielder Jack Wilson, Jacob needed just 72 minor league games before making it to the majors, marking an incredibly quick rise through the Athletics farm system.
Nearly a year ago today, on July 17, 2023, Wilson was at the Coliseum as a potential rookie for the Athletics. He took batting practice and met with manager Mark Kotsay and some of his current teammates.
Wilson is the fifth member of the 2023 MLB Draft class to make the majors, joining No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates), No. 4 overall pick Wyatt Langford (Texas Rangers), No. 11 overall pick Nolan Chanuel (Angels) and No. 24 overall pick Herston Waldrep (Atlanta Braves).
Every top prospect, including Wilson, wants to make it to the big leagues this soon, but most players need to spend a few years in the minor leagues before they’re ready.
But in Wilson’s mind, this is what he wanted.
“For me, it was definitely the best plan,” Wilson told reporters. “I didn’t know if it was going to happen, but it feels great to be here today, to actually be on this field. Last year, [batting practice] “As a new draft player, it’s pretty awesome to actually be here, look around and be in this stadium.”
Kotsay admitted to reporters on Friday that he didn’t expect to meet Wilson so soon.
“I really don’t think so. I’m not faulting him as a player,” Kotsay told reporters. “He’s had a growth spurt. To make it to the major leagues in your first full season of professional baseball is quite an accomplishment. We’re happy to have him and give him this opportunity. The success he’s had this season in the minor leagues at Double-A and Triple-A has been extraordinary. This is a reward. We talk about it a lot in this organization. You go out there and you perform, and you earn your opportunity. He’s done that and he got his opportunity tonight.”
A graduate of Grand Canyon University, Wilson had a big minor league career last year and this season, appearing in 72 games at the rookie level, High-A Lansing, Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas, batting .401/.445/.613 with 36 doubles, eight home runs and 47 RBIs.
Wilson grew up in major league clubhouses, with his father playing 12 seasons for the Pirates, Braves and Seattle Mariners.
The advice Jack gave to Jacob before this moment was simple.
“The most important thing for him growing up was just enjoying this game,” the Wilsons said. “It’s like a kid’s game. It’s just a great thing to have grown up playing this game as a kid and then, of course, be blessed enough to play on this stage. But I think the most important thing for him is knowing that every day, no matter how good or bad the day before was, he can just turn a new page and play this game again tomorrow.”
“So just having him on my side is just amazing. I have a great family and a great support staff and they support me like crazy.”
Wilson will play shortstop and bat eighth in his MLB debut.
With Wilson now in the fold, the Athletics’ plan is to build around him and incorporate second baseman Zach Geroff, outfielder Lawrence Butler and first baseman Tyler Soderstrom.