Completed Event: Baseball at Fresno State on April 2, 2026 , Loss , 8, to, 10
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at Fresno State
L 8-10
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Justine Willard
Wilson's MLB career begins bittersweet
7/19/2024 10:30:00 PM | Baseball, Paul Coro
GCU great singles in 1st AB as A's starting shortstop, leaves game injured
The perfect Jacob Wilson professional debut was underway Friday from the crisp white No. 5 Oakland Athletics jersey and big-league hugs awaiting the former Grand Canyon standout in the Oakland Coliseum clubhouse to the dream beginning on the field.
The game's first pitch was hit the A's starting shortstop's way and Wilson handled it cleanly, just as he would with a solo 6-3 double play two innings later that set him up to lead off the bottom of the third inning.
On the second pitch he saw ar the plate, Wilson smacked a low slider over the shortstop's head and into center field for his first Major League hit.
"That's definitely a moment that you'll remember for the rest of your life," Wilson told NBC Sports California after the game. "Being able to see the ball go over that shortstop and just be able to get to first base, You just know that all the hard work you had your entire life paid off. You got the first hit.
"it was a great feeling to be able to look up and see my family all up there. It obviously went downhill pretty quick, but it was definitely a high moment for sure."
Unfortunately, Wilson's MLB debut did not last much longer.
After moving to second base on a disengagement violation, Wilson was rounding third to score on Lawrence Butler's triple when his stride hitched. Wilson hobbled home to score but grimaced in frustration with a left hamstring strain.
"It was pretty horrible," Wilson told NBC Sports California. "This is a day you've been working for your entire life. You look forward to it for a long time now. I had three innings and got the base hit, which was the high moment of my life right there. Rounding third, obviously I felt something. It's better safe than sorry. Try not to make it worse. Hopefully, it's not too serious."
The 22-year-old left the dugout with intentions of taking the field to start the top of the fourth inning but immediately felt a twinge and was pulled from the game by A's Manager Mark Kotsay. (Wilson was placed on the injured list until July 30 but may require more recovery time)
"He did not want to come out of the game," Kotsay told reporters after the game. "That's a decision that I had to make ... For Jacob, ultimately, it's a great start. Hopefully, it's a minor strain. Something we can deal with and get back."
Wilson, who the A's drafted No. 6 overall last July, made the ninth-fastest ascent to the majors in franchise history with 376 days between his draft day and his debut. It ranks just nine days behind Hall of Fame player Reggie Jackson and entailed only 72 minor-league games of .401 hitting.
Although his debut was brief, Wilson flashed the touted bat-to-ball skills and sure glovework in his three-inning appearance.
Wilson's father and former 12-year MLB player, Jack, attended the game with more Wilson family and was shown reacting with clapping joy to his son's first hit and with hands-on-head concern when Wilson pulled up while running home.
Jack is managing a summer collegiate team in Tennessee, but he left to attend Friday night's game in Oakland once Jacob delivered the monumental news of his promotion.
Here is how Wilson's first hit sounded on A's radio Friday night with the call from longtime play-by-play announcer Ken Korach:
Photojournalist Jose Carlos Fajardo captured Wilson's short-lived debut of wide-ranging plays and emotions at Oakland Coliseum.
The game's first pitch was hit the A's starting shortstop's way and Wilson handled it cleanly, just as he would with a solo 6-3 double play two innings later that set him up to lead off the bottom of the third inning.
On the second pitch he saw ar the plate, Wilson smacked a low slider over the shortstop's head and into center field for his first Major League hit.
"That's definitely a moment that you'll remember for the rest of your life," Wilson told NBC Sports California after the game. "Being able to see the ball go over that shortstop and just be able to get to first base, You just know that all the hard work you had your entire life paid off. You got the first hit.
"it was a great feeling to be able to look up and see my family all up there. It obviously went downhill pretty quick, but it was definitely a high moment for sure."
Jacob Wilson registers a hit in his first MLB at bat 👏 pic.twitter.com/llvvBenU8V
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) July 20, 2024
Unfortunately, Wilson's MLB debut did not last much longer.
After moving to second base on a disengagement violation, Wilson was rounding third to score on Lawrence Butler's triple when his stride hitched. Wilson hobbled home to score but grimaced in frustration with a left hamstring strain.
"It was pretty horrible," Wilson told NBC Sports California. "This is a day you've been working for your entire life. You look forward to it for a long time now. I had three innings and got the base hit, which was the high moment of my life right there. Rounding third, obviously I felt something. It's better safe than sorry. Try not to make it worse. Hopefully, it's not too serious."
The 22-year-old left the dugout with intentions of taking the field to start the top of the fourth inning but immediately felt a twinge and was pulled from the game by A's Manager Mark Kotsay. (Wilson was placed on the injured list until July 30 but may require more recovery time)
"He did not want to come out of the game," Kotsay told reporters after the game. "That's a decision that I had to make ... For Jacob, ultimately, it's a great start. Hopefully, it's a minor strain. Something we can deal with and get back."
A's take the lead on Lawrence Butler's RBI double, but Jacob Wilson sustained an apparent left hamstring injury while scoring.
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) July 20, 2024
The top prospect was forced to leave his MLB debut pic.twitter.com/fXSE4EGZgt
Wilson, who the A's drafted No. 6 overall last July, made the ninth-fastest ascent to the majors in franchise history with 376 days between his draft day and his debut. It ranks just nine days behind Hall of Fame player Reggie Jackson and entailed only 72 minor-league games of .401 hitting.
Although his debut was brief, Wilson flashed the touted bat-to-ball skills and sure glovework in his three-inning appearance.
The first pitch of the game is a grounder to No. 1 Prospect Jacob Wilson at short, who fields it cleanly and throws over to first for the out. #Athletics pic.twitter.com/H0X2l5COjt
— Uprooted (@uprootedoakland) July 20, 2024
Wilson's father and former 12-year MLB player, Jack, attended the game with more Wilson family and was shown reacting with clapping joy to his son's first hit and with hands-on-head concern when Wilson pulled up while running home.
Jack is managing a summer collegiate team in Tennessee, but he left to attend Friday night's game in Oakland once Jacob delivered the monumental news of his promotion.
Former Major Leaguer Jack Wilson was pumped for his son Jacob's first career hit. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/7e0mneoIBi
— MLB (@MLB) July 20, 2024
Here is how Wilson's first hit sounded on A's radio Friday night with the call from longtime play-by-play announcer Ken Korach:
Congrats to @Athletics top prospect Jacob Wilson on his first MLB hit in the third inning vs the Angels!
— A's Cast (@athleticscast24) July 20, 2024
🗣️ : @JDoskow & @KenKorachRadio pic.twitter.com/dnT5P5aUha
Photojournalist Jose Carlos Fajardo captured Wilson's short-lived debut of wide-ranging plays and emotions at Oakland Coliseum.
OMG! This is crazy. Jacob Wilson gets his first double play. Connects for his first major league hit. Scores his first run. Gets hurt while running home and leaves the game with an injury! #rootedinoakland #athletics pic.twitter.com/1jvMIN6WtI
— Jose Carlos Fajardo (@FuzyJoe) July 20, 2024
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