Jacob Wilson‘s Major League Baseball debut with the Athletics ended abruptly after just three innings on Friday at the Oakland Coliseum due to a left hamstring strain.
Wilson, a top prospect, started strong by singling in his first MLB at-bat and advancing to second base on a pitching violation by Los Angeles Angels pitcher Griffin Canning. However, while rounding third base on Lawrence Butler’s subsequent triple, Wilson pulled up with a hamstring injury. Despite attempting to continue, he realized he couldn’t stay in the game and left before the top of the fourth inning.
“It was pretty devastating,” Wilson said afterward. “This is something you dream about your whole life, something you look forward to for a long time. I had a few innings there where I had the base hit, which was the highlight of my life.
After Oakland’s win, manager Mark Kotsay provided an update on Wilson’s injury, hoping it was minor and manageable for the young player.
Selected sixth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, Wilson earned his call-up after excelling in the minor leagues with a .401/.445/.613 batting line, 36 doubles, eight home runs, and 47 RBIs across 72 games.
For Wilson and his father Jack, a former MLB player, the emotional rollercoaster from the thrill of his first MLB hit to the disappointment of his injury was profound.
