Athletics Star Wilson Faces Sophomore Slump Risk

The Oakland Athletics have recently focused on securing their young talent with long-term extensions. Following deals for Lawrence Butler and Tyler Soderstrom, Jacob Wilson also signed a seven-year contract. Wilson established himself as the starting shortstop in his rookie year, playing 128 games and achieving an All-Star selection with a .311 batting average, 13 home runs, and 63 RBIs.

As Wilson enters his second full season, attention turns to whether he can avoid a sophomore slump, a pitfall for some promising players. Concerns have been raised by analysts regarding the sustainability of his offensive performance. His statistics in average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and barrel rate were notably low, suggesting that his .311 average might have been bolstered by luck rather than elite power metrics.

Despite these analytical doubts, Wilson acknowledges his need for more power. He has reportedly been working on adding muscle during the offseason to improve his ability to drive the ball. While some analysts predict a decline in his offensive output for the 2026 season, Wilson could potentially defy expectations and prove his doubters wrong.