OAKLAND — The Jacob Wilson era in Oakland is temporarily on hold.
Wilson, the A’s top prospect, was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday before the team’s series finale against the Angels with a strained left hamstring, an injury he suffered in the third inning of his major league debut Friday.
In a corresponding move, infielder Abraham Toro was activated from the 10-day injured list.
The 22-year-old’s major league debut started on a positive note. After grounding into a double play in the top of the third, Wilson singled to left field in the bottom of the inning to record his first career hit in his first at-bat. The jubilation quickly turned to agony.
Two batters later, Wilson limped to the plate as he scored on Lawrence Butler’s double, looking clearly distraught as he crossed the plate and scored his first career run. Wilson jogged to shortstop for the top of the fourth inning, but was removed from the game before the inning began.
“Once I saw him on the field, it was an easy decision for me to take him out,” manager Mark Kotsay said Friday. “He was limping. There’s no reason for us to force this kid out with a lower back injury that could make it worse by letting him play for us — or not being able to play and hurting the team. From that standpoint, I admire the kid’s passion and his desire to be on the field, but it’s my job to make that decision for him.”
“It was really horrible,” Wilson said Friday of his injury. “It’s the day you work your whole life for. I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time now. I went three innings at that point, got the hit, which was the biggest moment of my life. Then, as I was going around third base, I obviously felt something. Better safe than sorry and try not to make it worse. Hopefully it’s not too bad.”
Wilson suffered a knee injury earlier this season that forced him to miss a month, but this is the first time in his career he has suffered a hamstring injury.
With Wilson on the injured list, all-around man Max Schuemann will take over the starting shortstop role. Before Wilson’s arrival, Schuemann had been the starting shortstop for most of the season, starting 56 games at shortstop in the first half of the season. Kotsay informed Schuemann that he would return to a utility role to match Wilson’s call-up, but with Wilson sidelined, Schuemann, who got the starting nod Saturday and Sunday, will once again captain Oakland’s infield.
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