Rookie Wilson wowing A's: 'We’re watching a kid become a Major League shortstop'

WEST SACRAMENTO -- Jacob Wilson didn’t waste any time after making one of the finest defensive plays of his young career.

The A’s rookie shortstop bounded into the dugout after making a stellar throw across his body to keep a run off the board in the fifth inning of Friday’s 6-5 win over the White Sox at Sutter Health Park. Right away, he sought out third base/infield coach Eric Martins to go over the defensive gem -- one that seemed eerily familiar.

"Wow,” Wilson told Martins, “we just worked on that today.”

The two had indeed practiced that exact play -- a chopper deep in the hole -- during pregame drills Friday, only for Wilson to turn it into reality in a clutch moment. With two outs in the fifth and runners on the corners, Chicago’s Joshua Palacios hit the exact type of ground ball Wilson and Martins had just been training for.

Wilson was ready. He snagged the second hop and fired off-balance to first base, a perfect throw that beat Palacios by half a step to end the threat.

"That’s a play a Major League shortstop makes, and that’s what we’re enjoying right now,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “We’re watching a kid become a Major League shortstop, an everyday shortstop, in front of our eyes."

That maturation has long since begun on offense. Wilson’s fifth-inning play at short was promptly upstaged by his third home run of the season, which led off the bottom of the frame, and by his tying RBI hit in the following frame. He’s now batting .347 in 2025, the fourth-highest average among Major League qualifiers.

But if Wilson’s defense can reach a similar level? That would be an exciting development, although not one Kotsay and the A’s necessarily need going forward.

"My expectation and my desire is that he’s just an everyday, solid, above-average Major League shortstop,” Kotsay said before Friday’s game. “That’s really what we need in the middle of the field. If he turns into a Gold Glove-type shortstop, that’s a bonus.”

Wilson, of course, might not quite get to that point. He’s been a subpar defensive shortstop by Outs Above Average (albeit in a limited sample) so far in his career, and he hasn’t always manned the crucial position smoothly.

But the A’s see something in the No. 6 overall pick from the 2023 Draft -- and it’s not just his bat.

Starter Luis Severino, who tossed six innings and struck out seven in Friday’s win, said he sees a lot of similarities between Wilson and Mets superstar Francisco Lindor, Severino's teammate last season in New York. That’s obviously high praise, but Wilson does seem worthy.

"I feel like being so young, he’s so mature in the game,” Severino said. “I’m really happy to have him at shortstop, and hopefully he can be there for a long time.”

The way Wilson has been swinging the bat, he seems nearly certain to be a lineup mainstay for the A’s. The 23-year-old said he feels like he’s settled in after playing in 28 games in his debut season, and that familiarity has helped.

"Obviously the heart’s kind of racing every day versus now you kind of take a step back and really kind of try to stay calm every at-bat,” Wilson said.

On Friday, for example, Wilson matched up White Sox right-hander Sean Burke for the second time in 2025. The A’s shortstop went 1-for-2 with a single off Burke in their April 15 matchup at Rate Field in Chicago before singling and homering against Burke on Friday.

Chalk it up to the comfortability that comes with experience -- and practice. After all, Wilson’s walk-off single on Thursday night against the Rangers came after he had the presence of mind to ask Kotsay what pitch Texas reliever Luke Jackson might throw. Kotsay said slider. Wilson got one.

The youngster’s preparation was there again Friday as the A’s won their third straight game and reached the .500 mark for the first time since their opening series. This time, it showed on defense -- and Wilson made the most of it.

"It’s crazy how it always unfolds into the game,” Wilson said. “You put in the work behind the scenes to be able to show it at gametime.”