Athletics’ shortstop Jacob Wilson is an MLB superstar in waiting.
Even though West Sacramento’s Athletics play in a small sports market (20th media market), this season, word is spreading quickly of the talent already displayed by the popular rookie. Wilson, 23, was expected to excel at some point in his professional career. That is why the Athletics selected him in the first-round of the 2023 MLB Draft (sixth overall), and signed him for a $5.5 million bonus.
Wilson is a second-generation ballplayer. His dad, Jack Wilson, reached all-star status and claimed a Silver Slugger Award during his dozen MLB seasons. His nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates solidified Wilson as a class shortstop. Now, the next generation of Wilson infielders has reached the elite level of competition.
With the Athletics shifting franchise locations to West Sacramento, California, after playing the previous 57 seasons as the Oakland A’s at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, for the next three seasons, Wilson and his teammates are calling Sutter Health Park their temporary home. Cozying up in a Triple-A minor league Park that has a capacity of 14,014, the Athletics need players such as Wilson to hopefully keep the turnstiles busy. Currently, among all 30 MLB clubs, the Athletics rank dead last in attendance—42 home games at Sutter Health Park have attracted an average of 9,722 fans.
Wilson’s upcoming appearance in the 95th MLB All-Star Game on July 15 at Truist Park, home to the Atlanta Braves, should keep the Athletics’ fan base excited about one of their own getting to perform on the game’s highest stage. The only question lingering at this time in the voting process is, will Wilson start for the American League or will he be selected as a reserve?
But, make no mistake, Wilson is prime all-star talent that American League skipper Aaron Boone will want on his squad. Since Boone’s New York Yankees won the American League pennant last season, tradition calls for him to manage in this year’s All-Star Game.
Last week, when Phase 1 of fans voting for their favorites to be in the hunt for All-Star Game roster spots ended, Wilson’s popularity—not just in West Sacramento but throughout all other 29 MLB cities—exploded. Wilson collected 1,120,791 votes among all shortstop choices.
The closest to his numbers, coming in second place, is Kansas City Royals’ shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who was runner-up for American League MVP in 2024 to Yankees’ Aaron Judge, who is a distant second. The 868,584 votes Witt Jr. pulled in is impressive, and in most cities, expected. Trey Sweeney of the Detroit Tigers, who are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers with 52 wins thus far this season, earned 323,042 votes among shortstops.
The universal popularity of Wilson throughout the MLB world is real, and gaining steam.
Phase 2 of All-Star Game voting begins on Monday at noon EST and runs through noon EST on July 2. Starters will be announced on ESPN at 7 p.m. EST on July 2.
Athletic fans are probably a bit more anxious to have one of their own selected for a starting position for next month’s All-Star Game than most other baseball cities.
It hasn’t been since 2014 that an Athletics’ player has represented the club as a starter in the annual Midsummer Classic. Josh Donaldson, then in his fourth and last season with Oakland, was the top vote getter among American League third basemen with nearly three million fans selecting him.
Last season, when Wilson received his first taste of MLB life, in 28 games, he batted an unassuming .250. Fast-forward to the first half of 2025, he has produced at the plate like a totally transformed player. 78 games into this season, and Wilson has put up numbers worthy of MVP consideration. 40 RBIs, hitting .341, and perhaps most impressive is he has struck out only 24 times in 308 at-bats.
Offensively, Wilson is showing all the signs of being well disciplined. Success as this is usually associated with players around the league with several full seasons under their belt.
Heading into Saturday’s game in New York with the Yankees, the Athletics are 34–51; dead last in the American League West. Last season, at 69–93 and finishing in fourth place in the division, spirits were high going into spring training in Mesa, Arizona.
Progress, as a unit, continues to limp on. Individually, the Athletics have a budding superstar among their ranks. One step at a time, the building of a successful franchise marches on in West Sacramento. Step one is Wilson being the starting American League All-Star starting shortstop. For now, step two is still up for grabs.
