All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson returns from IL to help injury-plagued A’s
The injury-battered Athletics have their middle infield back.
The A’s announced Tuesday that 2025 All-Star shortstop and Rookie of the Year runner-up Jacob Wilson was reinstated from the 10-day injured list just three days after surging second baseman Zack Gelof returned from an injury of his own.
Despite the two returns, the A’s still remain one of the most injured teams in the MLB.
Two-time All-Star designated hitter Brent Rooker is out for the season. Other key contributors like slugging outfielder Tyler Soderstrom, defensive specialist Denzel Clarke, starter Luis Severino and reliever Mark Leiter Jr. remain on the IL in various stages of recovery.
Even 2026 All-Star Game starter Shea Langeliers suffered a left thumb contusion that kept him out of two games last week, though he was expected to return for Tuesday’s series opener against the Tigers in Detroit.
“(Injuries) definitely have hit us not, maybe, in an opportune time,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said last week of his team that is now 41-49 team, entering Tuesday four games out of a playoff wild card spot and 5 1/2 games out of the American League West lead. “We got to keep grinding.”
What does Wilson’s return mean?
Wilson had missed 10 games with right thumb inflammation before returning to the A’s lineup Tuesday, hitting fifth and playing shortstop.
It was the second major injury of the 24-year-old’s season, after a left shoulder injury took him off the field for about a month across May and June.
Though Wilson’s .696 on-base-plus slugging percentage this season is not as strong as his All-Star 2025 campaign, he has continued to shine as a contact bat with a .277 batting average with 10 doubles in just over 200 at-bats.
Before hitting the IL in late June, Gelof was among the hottest hitters in baseball, with his midgame injury bringing an abrupt end to 24-game hitting streak. He hit singles in both of his first two games back over the weekend.
Utility player Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, who was called up and made his MLB debut when Wilson was sent to the IL last week, remained on the A’s roster despite the two infielders returning after batting over .400 in his six games of MLB action so far. On Tuesday, Kuroda-Grauer, the A’s No. 9 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, will start at second base with Max Muncy at third base and Gelof playing left field for the second time in his career.
Catcher Brian Serven, instead, was sent down in Wilson’s place. Servin was called up after Langeliers’ thumb contusion as a backup catching option should Jonah Heim need to come out of the game with Langeliers out.
Pitching moves continue
Also on Tuesday, the A’s recalled left-handed starter Jacob Lopez and optioned Turlock-native righty Kade Morris back down to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.
Starting pitching has been a concern for the A’s as of late, with J.T. Ginn and rookie Gage Jump being the only consistent starters with below a 4.00 ERA. Jeffrey Springs (5.19 ERA, 18 starts), Jack Perkins (6.75 ERA, six starts) and Aaron Civale (5.10 ERA, 15 starts) have all struggled recently, as the A’s had a tough June, only winning two series and now needing to make a run to get back into playoff contention.
“Overall, the starting pitching is what we need to improve,” Kotsay said Saturday. “We need to get guys deep into games, we need to put up zeros early for some momentum.”
In 12 appearances, 10 of which were starts, with the A’s this season, Lopez had also struggled, pitching to a 6.75 ERA across 50 ⅔ innings.
After a particularly rough seven-run, two-inning start against the New York Yankees in late May, Lopez, who was on the A’s Opening Day roster, was sent down to Triple-A.
After two tough outings to start his stint with the Las Vegas Aviators, Lopez, 28, earned back-to-back wins while surrendering one run or less over at least five innings of work before getting called back up.
Morris, 24, was recalled last week after a tough MLB debut and threw three solid innings of one-run ball in his first relief appearance back with the A’s. However, he gave up seven hits and three runs in another three-inning appearance Saturday, his last before getting sent back down.
