A lot has happened in a short time for Jacob Wilson, from making his MLB debut in 2024 a little more than a year after he was drafted by the Athletics to becoming the first fan-elected rookie shortstop to start an All-Star Game in ‘25.
It didn’t take long into 2026 for Wilson to reach his next big achievement. On Friday, the A’s announced an agreement with Wilson on a seven-year contract extension. A source told MLB.com that the deal is worth $70 million and includes an eighth-year club option for the '33 season.
Wilson, 23, is coming off a second-place finish in the American League Rookie of the Year Award voting, with A’s teammate Nick Kurtz claiming the honor. Wilson batted .311 with 13 home runs and an .799 OPS in his rookie campaign.
The move continues the club’s efforts to secure its promising position-player core for the foreseeable future ahead of its planned move to a new ballpark in Las Vegas in 2028.
Since the start of 2025, designated hitter Brent Rooker (5 years, $60 million) and outfielders Lawrence Butler (7 years, $65.5 million) and Tyler Soderstrom (7 years, $86 million) have all signed extensions of five years or more with the club. A’s general manager David Forst has also expressed a desire to extend Kurtz and slugging catcher Shea Langeliers.
A first-round Draft pick in 2023 out of Grand Canyon University, Wilson -- the son of former Major League shortstop Jack Wilson -- made his MLB debut in 2024, playing in 28 games. In 2025, his batting average topped .350 as late as June 24.
While the A’s finished in fourth place in the AL West at 76-86, their 35-29 (.547) record after the All-Star break ranked in the top 10 in the Majors. With Wilson, Rooker, Butler and Soderstrom now committed for the long haul -- and Kurtz looking to build on a monster rookie year -- the A’s have bolstered their offense further with the addition of second baseman Jeff McNeil and have their sights set on contending in 2026.