Jacob Wilson Signs Seven-Year Extension as A’s Lay Foundation for Las Vegas Era
LAS VEGAS - Standing near what will soon be home plate at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue, Jacob Wilson looked out at the Strip with a smile - and a clear sense of purpose. The 23-year-old shortstop, flanked by family and holding a rendering of the Athletics’ future ballpark, wasn’t just taking in the view. He was embracing the future.
That future now includes Wilson as a central figure, after he inked a seven-year, $70 million extension that will keep him in green and gold through at least the 2032 season, with a club option for 2033. For a franchise undergoing one of the most significant transitions in its history, Wilson isn’t just a rising star - he’s a cornerstone.
“It’s super special that I get to be a part of this transition,” Wilson said during a press conference at the A’s Experience Center in Las Vegas. “We’re super excited to see [the stadium] fully finished.
Today, we already saw how far it’s come. It’s a little glimpse of the future.”
Wilson’s deal is more than just a contract - it’s a signal. A signal that the A’s, long known for developing talent but often unable to keep it, are entering a new era. With a new stadium on the way and a move to Las Vegas set for Opening Day 2028, the organization is showing a clear commitment to building - and keeping - a core that can contend.
From Draft Day to Franchise Face
Taken sixth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, Wilson didn’t waste time making an impression. He debuted in July 2024 and quickly made his mark, earning a starting nod at shortstop for the American League in the All-Star Game last season. He finished the year tied for the second-highest batting average in the Majors (.311), trailing only Aaron Judge (.331), and sharing the runner-up spot with Bo Bichette.
For A’s general manager David Forst, Wilson’s trajectory has been nothing short of game-changing.
“This is an organizational achievement,” Forst said. “It’s a tribute to Jacob. He really sort of set the timeline here for players in the A’s organization by getting to the big leagues as quickly as he did.”
Wilson’s rapid rise has helped reset expectations inside the clubhouse and front office. He’s not just a player - he’s become a blueprint. His success has opened the door for other young talents to believe they can move fast, contribute early, and be part of something bigger.
A Culture Shift in the Clubhouse
Wilson didn’t have to sign this extension. He wasn’t even arbitration-eligible until 2027. But for him, the decision to commit long-term wasn’t about dollars and cents - it was about the people around him.
“It goes back to the teammates in the locker room,” Wilson said. “We have a very special group here that goes to work every day and hangs out with each other. That made it an easier decision knowing that I get to share the field with those guys for the next seven or eight years.”
Wilson watched teammates Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler sign their own seven-year deals over the past year. That sense of continuity - of building something together - clearly resonated.
“I love those guys. I love going to work with them every day,” Wilson added. “It’s a special squad that’s going to do great things in the future.”
A New Philosophy, Fueled by a New Home
For much of Forst’s tenure with the A’s - which dates back to 2000 - the story has been familiar: draft well, develop talent, and then watch those players leave when free agency looms. That’s no longer the playbook.
Between Wilson, Butler, and Soderstrom’s seven-year extensions, plus a five-year deal for Brent Rooker last offseason, the A’s are making it clear: they’re ready to invest in their own.
“It’s pretty obvious that this construction site out here is allowing us to operate differently than we ever have,” Forst said, gesturing toward the rising steel and concrete of the Las Vegas ballpark. “As long as we were in Oakland, we always talked about wanting to keep the team together. … This [new stadium] is allowing us to operate differently.”
It’s a shift that goes beyond just one player. The A’s are actively engaged in extension talks with other key pieces, including AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz and power-hitting catcher Shea Langeliers. The goal is clear: build a contender now, and carry that momentum into Las Vegas.
“As we head toward 2028 in Las Vegas, we want to be a team that is ready to win,” Forst said. “We still have hopes of doing more of these, whether we’re trying to attract free agents or keep guys in this uniform for as long as possible.”
A Glimpse of What’s to Come
The construction site may still be a work in progress, but the vision is coming into focus. The A’s aren’t just building a stadium - they’re building a team, a culture, and a future.
And at the center of it all is Jacob Wilson - standing on a patch of dirt that will soon be home plate, holding a blueprint of the stadium, and representing a franchise finally ready to turn the page and write a new chapter.
If the early signs are any indication, the A’s aren’t just moving to Las Vegas. They’re arriving with purpose.