D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

MLB Makes Jacob Wilson Announcement Amid Rookie Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 7:02 PM ET

By all accounts, the Athletics have endured a challenging stretch over the past few years.

After finishing the 2024 season with a 69-93 record, good for fourth place in the American League West, the A's underwent a period of transition that saw the team relocate temporarily to West Sacramento and play under a new moniker simply as "the Athletics."

Through May 2025, the team has struggled to find consistent footing, assembling a 23-38 record, which places them last in the AL West, 10.5 games behind the division-leading Seattle Mariners.

Despite all of this, Tuesday’s announcement that rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson was voted the American League Rookie of the Month for May emerged as a bright spot for a franchise searching for reasons to celebrate.

Drake Baldwin: .389 AVG, 1.004 OPS, 3 HR, 9 RBI
Jacob Wilson: .368 AVG, .975 OPS, 10 XBH, 16 RBI

Your NL and AL Rookies of the Month for May! pic.twitter.com/euEM09xQ5A
— MLB (@MLB) June 3, 2025

Projecting as one of the top amateur shortstops in his class, Wilson, son of former MLB All-Star Jack Wilson, was selected sixth overall by the Athletics in the 2023 MLB Draft, signing for a $5.5 million bonus.

He broke in professionally with High-A Lansing (hitting .318 in 88 at-bats), then briefly appeared in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League before opening 2024 at Double-A Midland, where he bludgeoned a .455 average and launched three home runs over 88 at-bats.

His rapid ascent led to a mid-season promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas, and ultimately, his MLB debut on July 19, 2024, when the A’s added him to the 40-man roster.

In 28 games that season, Wilson slashed .250/.314/.315 with three RBIs, laying the groundwork for his full-time arrival this spring.

Over 26 May games this season, Wilson had the fourth-highest batting average of any qualified hitter (.368) and collected 39 hits , second only to Freddie Freeman in the entire American League.

He also led the Athletics in nearly every offensive category, including 16 RBIs and a .975 OPS.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: