Elephant Rumblings: Wilson approaching his return

MLB news roundup

Morning A’s fans!

The team went without shortstop Jacob Wilson for the final two games of their series against the Angels thanks to some nagging hamstring tightness. The club ended up losing both of those games by one run in each game and it’s hard not to think the club could have taken at least one of those games had Wilson been available and in the lineup.

It’s hard to get mad at someone for availability reasons someone who has played in 64 of a possible 70 games so far this season. The current Vegas favorite for the AL Rookie of the Year award is also en route to his first All-Star appearance on the strength of an incredible .366/.402/.520 slash line with eight home runs, five stolen bases, and solid if not above-average defense at one of the hardest positions on the diamond. If he was in a bigger market like New York he’d likely be garnering MVP consideration alongside superstar and future Hall of Famer Aaron Judge.

That’s why missing his bat over the last couple of days hurt. He changes the tune of the lineup and the vibes for the club. When Wilson is up to bat, it’s almost a surprise when he doesn’t get a base knock. He’s become a fixture at the top of the order and his absence sends reverberating shocks down the rest of the lineup.

Luckily it seems like this brief absence will remain that. The 23-year-old shortstop looks like he has an excellent chance to return to the starting lineup this weekend against the Kansas City Royals, per Martin Gallegos:

Getting Wilson’s bat and energy back into the lineup would be massive for the club as they prepare to take on a young and hungry Royals team that is exactly at the .500 mark at 34-34, which is only good enough for fourth in the AL Central. KC is still deciding whether to buy or sell at the trade deadline and the A’s could get an early start on their role as spoiler with a good weekend against their AL Central foe.

Not to be forgotten in the post from Gallegos, Nick Kurtz also seems ready to rejoin Wilson in the starting lineup come Friday evening. He was in the midst of a power surge at the time of his placement on the IL but is just 1-for-8 since his return. Kurtz and Wilson are two players who look like they could be fixtures in the Athletics’ lineup for years to come. Get ready to see lots of Kurtz driving in Wilson over at least the next few years.

The team has an off day today, but then they play 19 games in 18 days so the players better have taken advantage of that day off. It’ll be the last one they have for a few weeks, and this stretch will officially determine not only what direction the team takes this year, but next season as well. It’s looking like we’ll be sellers, and it’s a seller’s market right now.

Have a great day everyone.

A’s Coverage:

• Athletics Drop Finale 6-5 to Angels
• Tuesday’s Game Just The Latest Example Where Poor Strategy And Poor Fundamentals Meet
• Athletics Fall To Angels In Extras 2-1
• Athletics outright Carlos Duran
• A’s to hold Las Vegas ballpark groundbreaking event on June 23
• Kelly returns to ‘pen after suspension: ‘It’s exciting to be back’
• A’s Have a Knack For All-Time Defense at Angel Stadium—But Which is the Best?
• Latest Athletics injuries and transactions

MLB News & Interest:

• Tigers rookie pitcher Jackson Jobe to undergo Tommy John surgery
• Yankees’ Marcus Stroman, Giancarlo Stanton sharp in Double-A rehab
• Giants place Patrick Bailey on IL, recall Logan Porter
• Royals place starter Cole Ragans on IL with rotator cuff strain
• Hoyer, Cubs in ‘information-gathering stage’ of eyeing rotation upgrades
• Andrew McCutchen passes Roberto Clemente on Pirates’ HR list
• Brewers move Aaron Civale to bullpen
• Confirmed fan Pope Leo XIV wears White Sox hat at Vatican: ‘That’s awesome’
• Dobbins defends claim father played for Yankees
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Gio Urshela went 1-for-4 in his first rehab game yesterday:

Signs of life from an A’s player: