Jacob came to me before his junior year of college, already an elite talent in fielding, hitting, and baseball IQ. Yet, we knew his biggest draft leverage was improving his speed. As a backup on the USA Collegiate National Team, he was determined to become a first-round pick. We focused on strength development, taking his home-to-first speed from 4.4 to 4.1 seconds. This metric helped secure his first-round selection—6th overall. After that, his mindset was “whatever it takes.” We built substantial strength, adding 15 pounds, boosting his power, and he hit over .400 in the minors, earning his big-league call-up. The next year, he continued his strength journey, finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year. Jacob’s story is one of grit—once overlooked, he forged a path of excellence that led him to the top.
Jacob Wilson – Oakland Athletics
