“The first father/son duo to play shortstop at the All-Star Game.”
That’s how FOX broadcaster Joe Davis introduced Athletics rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson and his father, 12-year Major League veteran Jack Wilson, during a wild All-Star Game on Tuesday that saw the National League come out on top in a dramatic home run swing-off, 7-6.
The younger Wilson had just completed his first at-bat as the American League’s starting shortstop and had taken the field in the bottom of the third inning.
He did so while wearing a microphone for the broadcast -- and so did Jack, sitting in the stands beaming with pride as his son took his position in the infield.
Not only did Jacob become the first A’s player to start the Midsummer Classic since Josh Donaldson in 2014, but he and his dad became the first father/son duo to both become All-Star shortstops, with Jack having suited up for the NL as a reserve player in 2004 with the Pirates.
“I’m really proud of you right now,” said Jack to Jacob between pitches. Jacob fielded some questions about his backyard practice sessions with Jack – and the dynamic of having both him and his father on the microphone at the same time gave this whole sequence a unique feel, for sure.
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Up in the broadcast booth next to Davis, meanwhile, John Smoltz took the opportunity to reflect.
“Jacob, I’m a little bit in a weird place. I faced your dad, and now I’m calling your All-Star Game. Has your dad told you what his batting average is against me?”
Jacob: “No, remind me.”
“.333, 4-for-12,” replied Smoltz, eliciting smiles from both generations of Wilsons, Jack remarking, “C’mon, that can’t be right.” (Smoltz was correct).
The inning ended quickly on a Pete Alonso lineout, but as Jacob trotted off the field with his teammates, Jack remained in Coach mode, offering up this advice for later in the game:
“Have another at-bat … ambush, ambush, ambush.”
That seems to be Wilson’s plan of action at the plate, as he finished the first half seeing just 3.24 pitches per at-bat, which ranks near the bottom among qualified batters. His first-pitch swing rate (34%) is above the league average of 30%, as well.
True to form, Wilson didn’t waste time in his first at-bat, a first-pitch flyout against the Giants’ Logan Webb. His second time up was a three-pitch at-bat in the fifth facing the Nats’ MacKenzie Gore that included an ABS challenge on a 1-0 offering from Gore that was first called a strike by home-plate umpire Dan Iassogna, before being ruled a ball at 1.3 inches below the strike zone. Wilson then rocketed a 97.8 mph groundout to short.
This all makes sense, of course -- the younger Wilson knew Dad was watching his All-Star debut, after all, so of course he would use the same approach that got him there in the first place.
Wilson finished his All-Star debut 0-for-2, being replaced by the Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. in the bottom of the fifth, but the box score hardly mattered in the end.
"It was awesome,” Wilson said afterward. “First time I’ve ever been mic’d up on a baseball field and it was a cool interview for me. I was lucky enough to not get any ground balls at short, so I just got to focus on the interview. I was a little nervous, but it was all good. Ended up being a good inning, good interview, and I loved doing it.”