As the Athletics prepare for spring training, spotlight shines on their promising young shortstop, Jacob Wilson. The 23-year-old infielder recently disclosed the All-Star player who inspired him throughout his development, offering insight into his personal journey toward the majors and the key figures who shaped his path.
The Role of Family and Dansby Swanson in Wilson’s Development
Wilson explained that during his childhood, his greatest influence was his father, Jack Wilson. Spending countless hours at the baseball field with his dad provided the foundation for his early love of the game. As he progressed into high school and college, Wilson’s admiration shifted toward Dansby Swanson, a fellow shortstop and standout Vanderbilt player who currently competes in MLB for the Chicago Cubs.
Growing up, it was a lot of my dad,
said Wilson.
“He was just dad when I went to the baseball field pretty much every day. Once he retired and I started getting into, like, high school and college and stuff, a guy that I loved watching back in Vanderbilt was Dansby Swanson. That was a guy that I looked up to, you know, as a high school kid coming up.”
I wanted to go to Vanderbilt just because of [Swanson],
Wilson added.
I got to talk for the first time when I called up, and he’s great… I actually got to tour the Cubs’ place back in college when I was taking the tours before the draft. I got to talk to him, and it was awesome getting to talk to him. He’s a guy I really looked up to in high school and college.
Wilson’s Progress and Expectations for the Upcoming Season
Entering his third major league season, Wilson demonstrated significant promise during the 2025 campaign. He finished with an impressive .311 batting average and a .355 on-base percentage, accumulating 151 hits, 13 home runs, and 63 RBIs over 486 at-bats. These statistics underline Wilson’s growing impact on the field as he continues to develop his skills at the highest level of baseball.
With spring training on the horizon, Wilson’s connection to his influences and solid performance last season build anticipation for his continued growth and contribution to the Athletics’ lineup. His admiration for players like Swanson highlights a path of inspiration fueling his ambitions in MLB.
Want to feel old?
Jacob Wilson says he looked up to Dansby Swanson in high school and college. 😳 pic.twitter.com/q9TrzSpTy1
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 19, 2026
