WEST SACRAMENTO -- Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson exited Tuesday's series opener against the Braves in the first inning after being hit on the left hand with a pitch, putting a damper on the A’s 10-1 rout and the rookie’s All-Star season.
Wilson, named the American League's starting shortstop in next week's All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, was hit by the first pitch he saw Tuesday: a 97.3 mph fastball from Braves right-hander Didier Fuentes. Wilson crouched near home plate for a few minutes while testing his wrist with a trainer, then headed for the dugout.
Wilson was diagnosed with a contusion, with manager Mark Kotsay saying postgame that X-rays came back negative. Wilson remains day to day, and will be reevaluated on Wednesday.
"Luckily for me, nothing serious happened, no break,” Wilson said. “I’ll just get some treatment, come back tomorrow and see how it feels and get with the trainers.”
It’s not the first time the standout rookie has dealt with an injury: He missed two games last week and two others back in June with right hamstring soreness. In 2024, he strained his left hamstring making his Major League debut and missed more than a month.
Max Schuemann, who pinch-ran for Wilson and stayed in the game at shortstop, has started at shortstop in seven of the eight games in which Wilson was not in the lineup. The A’s already have two key infielders on the 10-day injured list: Miguel Andujar (right oblique strain) and Luis Urías (right hamstring strain).
It seems like Wilson will avoid the injured list, though he might not be back in the lineup right away. The rookie’s left hand and wrist were enveloped in a gauze wrap after the game.
"It’s not good to see somebody take 97 off the wrist like that at any time,” pitcher Jeffrey Springs said. “Hopefully in a couple days, he’ll be back out there. You hate it for him, but he’s a tough kid, so as soon as he’s ready to go, he’ll be back out there.”
A leading contender for the AL Rookie of the Year Award, Wilson entered Tuesday batting .335 with nine home runs and an .847 OPS. His batting average ranks second among qualifying hitters, behind only the Yankees’ Aaron Judge (.360).