The fans spoke, and history was made.<\/p>\n
Athletics star Jacob Wilson<\/a> will be the first fan-elected rookie ever to start an MLB All-Star Game, the league announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n Wilson is the second-ever rookie shortstop to start an All-Star Game, joining the Baltimore Orioles’ Ron Hansen, who achieved the feat in 1960.<\/p>\n Wilson and Bobby Witt Jr. were\u00a0the Phase 2 finalists, with the young A’s star edging the Royals supernova 52 percent to 48 percent.<\/p>\n Despite the A\u2019s 36-53 record<\/a>, Wilson\u2019s spot at the Midsummer Classic on July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta comes as no surprise.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wilson leads AL shortstops in batting average (.339), hits (108) and strikeout percentage (7.6) over halfway through the 2025 MLB season and is second in OBP (.380), OPS (.853) and wRC+ (138). Wilson also is tied with the Houston Astros\u2019 Jeremy Pe\u00f1a<\/a> for the fifth most RBI among AL shortstops with 40.<\/p>\n Wilson led throughout the entire voting process<\/a>, ultimately beating Witt Jr.<\/a>, Pe\u00f1a, Bo Bichette<\/a>, Anthony Volpe<\/a>, Zach Neto<\/a>, Gunnar Henderson<\/a>, Trey Sweeney<\/a>, J.P. Crawford<\/a> and Corey Seager<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jacob Wilson is a starter for the 2025 All-Star Game. He\u2019s the first-ever fan-elected rookie shortstop to start an All-Star Game, first A\u2019s shortstop to earn a starting All-Star nod since Bert Campaneris in 1974 and first A\u2019s position player starter since Josh Donaldson in 2014.<\/p>\n \u2014 Mart\u00edn Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) July 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n It probably won\u2019t be the last time Wilson, the AL Rookie of the Month for May, beats those same names for All-Star votes in future seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n The A\u2019s selected Wilson, the son of former MLB All-Star shortstop Jack Wilson<\/a>, No. 6 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, and he has been off to the races ever since. Wilson was promoted to the majors at the end of the 2024 season and is one of baseball\u2019s brightest stars less than a year later.<\/p>\n No one who has followed Wilson\u2019s young career expected anything less. But those unfamiliar with his game will have the chance to see Wilson shine among the game\u2019s best in just a few weeks.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t