MESA, Ariz. -- Between Brent Rooker, Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers 每 a foursome that combined for 110 home runs in 2024 〞 the Athletics are projected to have one of the more potent offenses in baseball this season.
Could it be time to start mentioning Jacob Wilson amongst that group of A＊s power threats?
In a 7-6 victory over the Mariners on Sunday at Hohokam Stadium that ended on a walk-off single by A＊s No. 7 prospect Max Muncy, it was Wilson who supplied most of the offense by belting a pair of home runs as part of a five-RBI effort.
Wilson crushed a solo shot in the third inning and a three-run blast one inning later, both off Mariners right-hander Casey Lawrence. Through 25 Cactus League games, the A＊s No. 1 (MLB No. 31) prospect leads the A＊s in homers (four) and RBIs (12) this spring.
In all seriousness, Wilson＊s unexpected power surge has been quite a pleasant and unexpected surprise. Over his first two seasons in the Minors, the shortstop hit just eight home runs in 337 plate appearances. He clubbed 22 home runs in college, but that was across three seasons and 697 plate appearances.
Wilson＊s newfound power can be attributed to the work he put in this offseason. With a goal of strengthening his lanky 6-foot-2 frame to fortify his body for the rigors of what will be his first full Major League season, Wilson worked out at the A＊s Spring Training complex in Mesa three times per week to train under the supervision of strength and conditioning coach Josh Cuffe. He followed a specific regimen of workouts designed to gain muscle mass and improve his fast-twitch movements both offensively and defensively.
※It just goes back to all the work in the offseason,§ Wilson said. ※The strength coaches here and a couple of players I got to work out with kept pushing me every day to get stronger and be an overall better baseball player. To see the hard work behind the scenes pay off has been awesome.§
Both home runs on Monday were drilled well up the left-field berm. There was no Statcast available at the stadium, though Wilson said he was told that the first homer registered an exit velocity of 102 mph. During his 28-game stint in the Majors last season, Wilson＊s average exit velocity was 85.4 mph.
※The pull side is going to be a strength for him,§ said manager Mark Kotsay. ※It＊s nice to see him elevate a ball to the pull side, for sure. It＊s encouraging that the work he put in the offseason by getting after it in the weight room is showing with the exit velocities going up.§
The A＊s do not anticipate Wilson to all of a sudden transform into a slugger. He is a pure contact hitter who ideally can set the table for the rest of the power hitters with insane bat-to-ball skills that continue to show up this spring as he＊s struck out just twice in 44 plate appearances. But if the result of him bulking up by about 15 pounds this winter includes an uptick in power numbers, the A＊s will gladly take it.
※He＊s not going to be a high walk guy,§ Kotsay said. ※But he＊s a guy that knows where the barrel is and he finds it quite a bit.§
MURDOCK MAKES ROSTER
Before Monday＊s game, Kotsay revealed that he informed Noah Murdock, a Rule 5 pick by the A＊s this winter, that he would be included in the club＊s Opening Day roster.
Murdock, 26, spent the first five seasons of his professional career with Kansas City in the Minors. After showing off an ability to generate weak contact and keep the ball on the ground with his heavy sinker, the A＊s decided to keep him on the roster for the start of the season.
※It was a pretty fun conversation,§ Kotsay said. ※It＊s an exciting time for him and exciting for me to deliver that message to a young player. You can tell the emotion of the message got to him. I couldn＊t be happier for him.§