Athletics Shortstop Jacob Wilson Struggles With High Chase Rate

Wilson's chase rate has jumped from 32.1% in 2025 to 52.5% in 2026, leading to a poor start to the season.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:50pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball player swinging at a pitch, the figure and action broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape.A cubist interpretation of a struggling hitter's swing highlights the Athletics' offensive woes.Oakland Today

The Oakland Athletics have one of the most exciting young lineups in MLB, but shortstop Jacob Wilson is off to a rough start in 2026. Wilson's chase rate, or the percentage of pitches he swings at outside the strike zone, has skyrocketed from 32.1% last season to 52.5% so far this year, leading to a drop in his batting average from .311 in 2025 to just .237 currently. This dramatic increase in chasing pitches is a major concern for the Athletics, who signed Wilson to a $70 million contract extension this offseason.

Why it matters

Wilson's struggles at the plate are a significant problem for the Athletics, as his offensive production is a key part of their young core. If he can't cut down on his chasing of pitches outside the strike zone, his overall impact will be a net-negative for the team, despite his All-Star potential.

The details

Through the first nine games of the 2026 season, Wilson has a -0.2 bWAR (Wins Above Replacement) with a 58 OPS+ and a .553 OPS. His dramatic increase in chase rate, from 32.1% in 2025 to 52.5% so far in 2026, is the largest year-over-year increase of any player in MLB. Without the ability to make consistent contact, Wilson's lackluster power production will continue to be a problem for the Athletics.

  • Wilson hit .311 in the 2025 season.
  • In the first 9 games of the 2026 season, Wilson has a -0.2 bWAR, 58 OPS+, and .553 OPS.

The players

Jacob Wilson

The Athletics' starting shortstop who signed a $70 million contract extension this offseason, but is off to a poor start in 2026 with a dramatic increase in his chase rate.

Nick Kurtz

Another young Athletics player who has not looked as good as he did last season so far in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“No player in MLB has seen a larger year-over-year increase in his chase rate - swinging at pitches out of the zone - than Jacob Wilson: 32.1% in 2025, 52.5% in 2026.”

— @jayhaykid, Twitter/X User

What’s next

The Athletics will need to work with Wilson to help him regain his plate discipline and cut down on chasing pitches outside the strike zone if they want him to return to the form he showed in 2025.

The takeaway

Jacob Wilson's dramatic increase in chase rate is a major concern for the Athletics, as his offensive struggles could undermine the team's young core if he can't make adjustments at the plate. This issue highlights the importance of plate discipline, even for talented hitters, in order to maximize their impact and production.