Grand Canyon University Alum Shines as MLB Rookie Star
ATLANTA – Jacob Wilson, a recent graduate of Grand Canyon University (GCU), is rapidly establishing himself as a premier talent in Major League Baseball, culminating in a historic All-Star Game start for the Oakland A’s. The 2023 season has been a whirlwind for the young shortstop, showcasing a rare combination of offensive prowess and defensive skill.
Through 40 games, Wilson demonstrated extraordinary hitting, including a remarkable 4-for-5 performance with two home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers, bringing his batting average to an extraordinary .363 – a figure achieved by only six other players league-wide this season. He mounted a late-season challenge to Aaron Judge for the batting title, reaching .319 on september 10 before Judge pulled away.
Wilson’s impact extends beyond the batter’s box. His slick fielding made him a frontrunner for American League Rookie of the Year, tho teammate Nick Kurtz emerged as a strong contender, a player Wilson playfully acknowledges by wearing “The Big amish” T-shirts.
The accolades reached a peak when Wilson became the first rookie shortstop voted to start an All-Star Game by fans since 1960. He is the first A’s shortstop to start an All-Star Game as Bert Campaneris in 1974 and the youngest All-Star starter for the team since Vida Blue in 1971.
“That entire week was crazy, and I enjoyed every bit of it,” Wilson saeid of the All-Star festivities in Atlanta. ”The All-Star Game was the most significant (achievement) to me. Being able to be named a starter by fans versus all the other great shortstops we have in this league, that is something that I’ll definitely take pride in for the rest of my career. Not a lot of words can describe it. It was just something that meant so much to me.”
Adding a layer of familial pride to Wilson’s success, teammate Scott McGough, a 35-year-old pitcher, shares a connection to the young star through his father, Jack Wilson.McGough, a Pittsburgh native, grew up watching Jack Wilson play nine seasons for the Pirates. The A’s September 19th visit to Pittsburgh provided a touching moment, re-enacting a first pitch thrown by a 4-year-old Jacob to his father in 2006.
“Jacob’s an unbelievable talent,” McGough said. “I looked up to his dad a lot, and he reminds me a lot of him. Just a great worker, a grinder. He never gives up on an at bat. He always finds a hole. He hits it anywhere on the field, which is an incredible skill to have. He’s just a special talent. I see the maturity at a young age, which is an impressive skill. He’s everything you want in a good, young player.”
