Most big league player success stories start the same way—early morning practice, hundreds of swings, balancing study and play, and maybe a parent throwing batting practice until their arm goes numb. Right? But there can be exceptions, and well, this is where a 23-year-old A’s shortstop’s journey to MLB will shock you. Sure, it had the conventional bits, but it also had something a little more…unexpected.

Jacob Wilson has turned heads this season. It hasn’t even been a whole season, and he’s already being mentioned in the same breath as Aaron Judge. And looking at his .347 average, his contact rate, and his near lock on Rookie of the Year—understandably, it’s not just hype. His secret weapon? Believe it or not—Fortnite. 

Yes, really. Wilson, who grew up around the mound—given his dad, Jack Wilson, played 12 seasons in the majors—has been obsessed with improving. That is why, on some mornings, before he heads to the ballpark, he logs into a game with his headset on and controller in hand. It’s not just a hobby; it’s prep for him.

Wilson, talking to ESPN, shared, “Kids are going to love this one. Parents are going to hate me. I am a big believer in video games. It’s fast decision-making strategy. I think that gets me ready for the game, because when you’re in the box, you have to process a lot.” And well, there is science behind this claim. There has been research showing that action gamers react 25% faster to unexpected visual stimuli. In another study, it was found that regular players are about 190 milliseconds quicker in decision-making tasks.

And sharp he is, because Wilson has been nearly impossible to strike out this season with contact numbers that would even make Tony Gwynn nod. And teammates back up the Fortnite theory, too. Max Muncy, who has known Wilson since high school, was full of praise for him, saying, “If we play a game with me and him and guys we know and you kill him once, you’re like, ‘That’s a good day. You could play 50 rounds. Just once is good.” 

Even Jack Wilson, who, like every parent, was skeptical of how much time Jacob spent on gaming, admitted that there seems to be something to it. “I do believe in the hand-eye coordination that video games give — as long as you do your homework…Kids, if you’re reading, do your homework.” So maybe it’s not so strange, not just a Gen Z thing. Maybe Wilson’s ability to slow the game down at the plate came from years of speeding things up on screen.

Jacob Wilson is MLB’s newest obsession

You can tell whether a player is becoming a star when his jerseys start flying off the shelves. But in Wilson’s case, it is his MLB rookie cards that are setting the market on fire. And it says everything you need to know about his rising stock in baseball. The Athletics shortstop is not just being talked about as the next Judge; he is also dominating fan attention. And that’s not easy. Plus, it’s showing in the MLB All-Star voting.

In voting, Wilson has pulled in over 1.1 million votes, placing him nearly 300,000 ahead of Bobby Witt Jr. for the American League’s starting shortstop spot. For a rookie playing in a temporary ballpark, this is no simple feat. But the All-Star ballots are not the only proof of his popularity. Collectors are going completely wild. Wilson’s trading cards have exploded in demand and value. For example, a 2023 Bowman Draft Sapphire 1/1 card recently sold for $11,100. This is the highest price yet for an unsigned Wilson card.

His autographed orange refractor cleared the $18,ooo mark. Even his base rookie cards are seeing a massive surge. Nearly 400 Wilson cards have been sold every day this June, so you can imagine the craze. But isn’t that expected? Over 68 games, Wilson has managed nine home runs, 40 RBIs, 17 walks, and 20 strikeouts. Those numbers simply scream AL Rookie of the Year favorite. Now, with Phase 1 of the All-Star voting closing on June 26, he is in line to start for the AL in Atlanta on July 15.

Jacob Wilson is proving that the next big thing in baseball is not coming, but is already here.