LOS ANGELES -- Jacob Wilson's locker is in the visiting team’s clubhouse this week at Dodger Stadium. But for the Athletics’ rookie shortstop, Tuesday’s series opener against the Dodgers represented a homecoming of sorts.
Wilson grew up in Thousand Oaks, a suburb around 30 miles northwest of Chavez Ravine.
“It feels awesome; being able to come back here and play in this stadium is obviously super cool for me,” Wilson said pregame. “I’ve been here many times as a fan, but to be here for the first time as a player is definitely going to feel special.”
Wilson said he had around 40 family and friends coming out to see him play -- and he didn’t make them wait long for a highlight. Wilson opened the game with a leadoff single and smoked two-run homers in the top of the third and the top of the fifth. It was the first multi-homer game and first four-RBI game of Wilson’s career.
He added another single in the sixth and reached on an error in the eighth to finish his career day 4-for-5 as the A’s unleashed 18 hits in a 11-1 win over the Dodgers. Wilson’s fellow rookie teammate Nick Kurtz hit his first career home run, while Jeffrey Springs held the defending champions to one run over seven strong innings.
Among those cheering Wilson on in the stands was his father and longtime coach, former All-Star shortstop Jack Wilson.
“I think just more as a dad, just enjoying watching your son do what he loves,” the elder Wilson said. “He’s loved it from the time we can remember from when he was little. Him getting to see and getting to watch me go through my career and go to all the stadiums, and him falling in love with the game, and to see him getting to do what I got to do and living the dream, it’s just pretty cool.”
Jacob Wilson said he has fond memories of coming to Dodger Stadium as a kid, watching batting practice on the field with his dad, who played 12 MLB seasons, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“Once he was done playing, we would come to the games, get on the field for BP, see some of his old teammates, old coaches,” Wilson said. "So I’ve been on the field many times here for BP, but like I said, never as a player. First time. So I’m really looking forward to that.”
The 23-year-old was particularly fond of the concessions.
“Growing up, I loved the Dodger Dogs here,” he said. “Dodger Dogs are always just like, you go here, automatic Dodger Dog and soda. You know, just ballpark junk food. But I loved coming to games, getting a hot dog, and watching my dad play.
“I saw a lot of baseball games growing up, so I wasn’t really mostly watching the games, it was more just being able to spend time with him at a baseball field.”
The father-son duo often talk after A’s games, breaking down Jacob’s hitting approach. Jack coached Jacob at Thousand Oaks High School and briefly at Grand Canyon University.
“To be able to call him after games has been everything for me, being able to lean on him and his knowledge that he has about the game,” Wilson said. “We talk about it a lot, in this game, it’s about making adjustments on a day-to-day basis. Try making them as fast as possible, and being able to call him after the game and talk about how I felt, or what was going on, and the insight that he has. ... It’s just awesome to have him in my corner and be able to call him every day and be able to have these conversations about what I can fix.”
Through Wilson’s first 39 games, there hasn’t been much to fix. He entered Tuesday with a .348/.377/.465 slash line and only nine strikeouts in 163 plate appearances. He leads all qualified rookies in average, hits (54), doubles (nine) and RBIs (22).
“We still talk a lot after the game, talk about the at-bats, whatever he wants to talk about,” said Jack Wilson. “But he’s doing a great job, and he loves the team and he’s having a good time.”
Manager Mark Kotsay knows how his rookie shortstop feels. Kotsay grew up in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., about 15 miles from Dodger Stadium, and played 51 games there throughout his career.
“This place is where my dad brought me for my first ballgame,” Kotsay said. “We sat up in the orange seats, because they were orange in the past, as high as you could get. This place is one of the ballparks I come and really, you feel the aura of baseball the second you walk in here.”
Kotsay said he remembers playing against Wilson’s father.
“I think for Jacob, following in his footsteps, it can be difficult to have that last name and to have those expectations,” Kotsay said. “But I think he’s handled it really well, and we’re letting him play right now. We’re letting him play, and just seeing a young player grow up in front of our eyes.”