Athletics is doing what smaller teams have to do to survive: locking in young talent before they become too expensive. Lawrence Butler, Tyler Soderstrom, and now Jacob Wilson—all have been given seven-year contracts, ensuring team stability while providing young players with an early financial foundation.
On paper, the decision to extend Wilson’s contract was unquestionable.
He earned his first-choice shortstop in spring training, played 128 games, batting .311/.355/.444, had 13 home runs, 63 RBIs, and finished the season as an All-Star. A complete, clean, and effective debut season—enough to erase his “rookie” status and make him the new face of the Athletics.
But that very perfection makes the 2026 season unpredictable.
In modern baseball, the “sophomore slump” isn’t just a vague curse. Corbin Carroll experienced it after the 2023 Rookie of the Year. Colton Cowser also tasted MLB’s ruthless adjustment after his first season. And according to Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report, Jacob Wilson could be the next name to enter that spiral.
The reason isn’t attitude or discipline. It’s the data.
Wilson’s fundamental metrics—average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, barrel rate, bat speed—are all among the lowest in the league. In other words, he generates output by getting the ball into play, not by power. For many analysts, that’s a double-edged sword. When contact is right, the batting average looks great. When luck turns against him, the “empty average” appears just as quickly.
Wilson doesn’t hit hard. He hits at the right time.
That’s skill, but it’s also something MLB learns to eliminate the fastest. Pitchers adjusted their positions, defense pulled deeper, and groundballs that used to penetrate the infield began to be blocked. At that point, Reuter’s question became very real: Does Wilson have enough “punch” to keep his line slash from collapsing?
Wilson himself seems to understand the issue better than anyone. According to MLB.com, he spent the offseason focusing on building muscle and improving his strength—an effort to add an extra layer of protection to his contact-oriented playing style. Not to become a slugger. Just to make opponents respect his shots a little more.
And that could be the key.
A’s doesn’t need Wilson to become a power hitter. They need him to avoid extremes: either hit .310 or be completely outmaneuvered. If he can maintain his put-the-ball-in-play ability, and add a few powerful shots to break the shift, the 2026 story will be completely different.
A seven-year contract brings even more scrutiny. Every short slump will be exaggerated. Every lackluster run will be labeled “already figured out.” That’s the price of being trusted early on.
Jacob Wilson has proven he can play in MLB. The 2026 season will answer the harder question: how can he stay there? And between the cold data and the quiet effort in the gym, the line between a “sustainable All-Star” and a “temporary breakout season” is thinner than ever.
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