NHL Power Rankings: Wild hold on to No. 1 spot, plus a holiday gift for every team
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Arda Ocal, ESPN Staff Writer
The holiday season is well underway. Proper planning with gifts is always the play: Don’t wait until the last second because the last thing you want is to be caught empty-handed when it’s too late.
That’s exactly how some NHL teams are feeling right now, on the outside looking in as we approach the NHL’s holiday break. So in the spirit of giving, we’re providing a gift for all 32 teams as we unveil the updated Power Rankings for the week.
How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday, which generates our master list.
Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Dec. 6. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.
Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 72.41%
The gift: A Hart Trophy. Kirill Kaprizov is the favorite to win the MVP of the league this season, and with good reason: he has 43 points, behind Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov, and 18 goals through 28 games. If he stays close or exceeds the reigning Hart Trophy winner in the Art Ross race for the rest of the season, you’d think it’s a very strong, almost “lock” kind of case for Kirill the Thrill, who has helped lead his Wild to a superb 19-6-4 start.
Next seven days: vs. PHI (Dec. 14), vs. VGK (Dec. 15), vs. FLA (Dec. 18)
Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 75.00%
The gift: Rest. That’s actually what Capitals players will be getting in February, because despite being one of the best teams in the league all season, no Caps players were selected for the 4 Nations Face-Off rosters. There was plenty of speculation about players — Tom Wilson, Logan Thompson, Dylan Strome, John Carlson, Rasmus Sandin, Jakob Chychrun — but ultimately, Washington was shut out, and maybe it will end up being a blessing in disguise.
Next seven days: vs. BUF (Dec. 14), @ DAL (Dec. 16), @ CHI (Dec. 17)
Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 69.35%
The gift: An early end to the season. The Jets had the best start to a season in NHL history, winning 15 of 16 games. Then things cooled down, as they went 7-8-0 in their past 15. Teams are catching up to their pace, but banking all of those points in the early season has kept them among the top teams in the standings.
Next seven days: vs. MTL (Dec. 14), @ SJ (Dec. 17), @ ANA (Dec. 18)
Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 70.63%
The gift: No blood from a Stone. When captain Mark Stone is healthy, the Golden Knights benefit on and off the ice. Players praise him as a terrific leader in the locker room and a two-way contributor on the ice. Injuries have consistently plagued Stone, who hasn’t played 70 games or more in a season since 2016-2017.
“On the ice, he’s a difference-maker. He plays power plays, special teams,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “They’re 1A and 1B, him and Jack Eichel when the puck runs through them. So when he’s out you miss that. It’s easier to defend against us.”
Next seven days: @ EDM (Dec. 14), @ MIN (Dec. 15), vs. VAN (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 64.06%
The gift: Consistency. It has been feast or famine for the Devils this season. They are fourth in the league in goals, and have beaten opponents by three-plus goals on nine occasions … but they’ve also been shut out five times, tied for most in the league. Head coach Sheldon Keefe told me this week that the goose egg is a talking point more than anything, and he likes how the offense is operating.
The Devils are 19-6-2 when scoring at least one goal; that includes the Tuesday tilt with the Maple Leafs, which ended in an overtime loss despite the Devils dominating most of the game.
Next seven days: vs. CHI (Dec. 14), @ STL (Dec. 17), @ CBJ (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 63.33%
The gift: Rodney Dangerfield concert album. Why? Because even though they are the reigning Stanley Cup champions, it feels as if they get no respect … no respect at all. At least not enough. They lead the Atlantic Division, are sixth in the league, but the spotlight is still being shined elsewhere when Cup favorites or threats are being discussed.
Next seven days: @ CGY (Dec. 14), @ EDM (Dec. 16), @ MIN (Dec. 18)
Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 66.07%
The gift: More packed buildings. On Tuesday, when the Canes defeated the Sharks 3-2, it marked the 82nd consecutive sellout at Lenovo Center. Hopefully that continues for the fans in Raleigh. The team continues to surpass the expectations of many, sitting third in the Metro with an 18-9-1 record.
Next seven days: vs. OTT (Dec. 13), vs. CBJ (Dec. 15), vs. NYI (Dec. 17)
Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 63.79%
The gift: More props for Anze Kopitar. The Kings’ captain recently passed 1,400 games in the NHL, becoming the 11th player in NHL history to reach that mark with one team. The 37-year-old center is both a nostalgic reminder of the Kings’ two Stanley Cup-winning teams, and a consistent, two-way force.
“To play that many games and to be playing at that level he is playing at, he is our leader on and off the ice,” goaltender Darcy Kuemper said. “He plays the game the right way his whole career. You think of him as a defensive player and then you look at how many points he has in his career. It’s pretty incredible what he has achieved. There’s not many guys that have achieved what he has.”
Next seven days: @ NYR (Dec. 14), @ PIT (Dec. 17), @ PHI (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 65.52%
The gift: More scoring. This is new territory for this iteration of the Leafs: 21st in goals for per game, for a team that is used to outscoring any challenges in the regular season. Injuries — including to Auston Matthews — have certainly been a factor. Luckily, they also have breakout goaltender Anthony Stolarz, and added key defensive personnel this offseason.
Next seven days: @ DET (Dec. 14), vs. BUF (Dec. 15), @ DAL (Dec. 18)
Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 60.71%
The gift: An interim replacement for Tyler Seguin. The veteran forward is out for the rest of the season after having left hip surgery. Seguin was having a wonderful start to the season, including 20 points in 19 games, and Dallas is 2-2 so far in his absence. A move to LTIR would free up $9.85 million in cap room, but until then, AHL players will get looks to fill the spot. Could a trade be forthcoming?
Next seven days: vs. STL (Dec. 14), vs. WSH (Dec. 16), vs. TOR (Dec. 18)
Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 62.07%
The gift: An eraser. October was another forgettable start for the Oilers, who have since corrected course and are 8-2 in their past 10, now sitting third in the Pacific. Connor McDavid recently reached 1,000 points in his career and I wouldn’t at all be surprised if he hits 2,000. Not to mention, he’s scoring his “McDavid” goals again:
Most times scoring the game’s opening goal, Oilers history
Ryan Smyth 61
Leon Draisaitl 60
Connor McDavid 57 pic.twitter.com/shSNsDSgka— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) December 11, 2024
Next seven days: vs. VGK (Dec. 14), vs. FLA (Dec. 16), vs. BOS (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 62.50%
The gift: A returning J.T. Miller. The veteran forward participated in his first full practice this week after taking an indefinite leave for personal reasons, and made his in-game return Thursday against the Panthers. A 103-point scorer last season, he is an integral part of Vancouver making noise again this season.
Next seven days: vs. BOS (Dec. 14), vs. COL (Dec. 16), @ UTA (Dec. 18), @ VGK (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 54.84%
The gift: Taylor Ham (or Pork Roll). That’s a debate usually reserved for residents of New Jersey, but the Avs just traded for Mackenzie Blackwood, which means they now have two former Devils goalies (who were also teammates in Jersey) as their tandem between the pipes. Scott Wedgewood recently shut out his former team 4-0, which again raised the “Why do former Devils goalies always do so well against them?” discussion.
Next seven days: vs. NSH (Dec. 14), @ VAN (Dec. 16), @ SJ (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 59.26%
The gift: The first line. It’s a gift they already have; let’s wrap up the Bolts’ top line with a festive bow. Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov have been dynamite together. In over 200 minutes as a unit, the line is 10th in the league in shot attempts (224). Kucherov has 44 points, Guentzel is at a point-per-game pace and Point is shooting at an unbelievable 36.7%. That won’t be sustained, but on many nights this line cannot be contained.
Next seven days: @ SEA (Dec. 14), vs. CBJ (Dec. 17), vs. STL (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 53.23%
The gift: A break. It has been a roller-coaster season for the Bruins already, with a coaching change, and some less-than-desirable results — the latest episode an 8-1 loss to the Jets that included the head coaches jawing and multiple fights involving players. The Bruins have struggled against the top teams in the NHL this season but remain third in the Atlantic. Perhaps they can pivot after the holiday break.
Next seven days: @ VAN (Dec. 14), @ CGY (Dec. 17), @ EDM (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 55.00%
The gift: Home cookin’. The Flames have one of the best home records in the NHL: 10-3-1. But on the road, they struggle, going 4-7-4. Luckily for them, if this trend is to continue, Calgary players will enjoy themselves until after the Christmas break, as their next four games will be at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Next seven days: vs. FLA (Dec. 14), vs. BOS (Dec. 17), vs. OTT (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 55.36%
The gift: A shovel. To dig out of the rut in which they appear to be trapped. Despite Jacob Trouba being traded and Igor Shesterkin being extended long term, things still don’t seem right on the ice, and the team is floundering (despite a win Wednesday against the Sabres). But hey, if Rangers fans believe that history repeats itself, this might give them something to look forward to:
If you believe history repeats itself:
92 #NYR : Presidents’ Trophy, lost to Cup champ Pens in 6 games
93: 29 points in 27 games, missed playoffs
94: 🏆24: Presidents’ Trophy, lost to Cup champ Cats in 6 games
25: 29P in 27GP, 52% playoffs chance (@HockeyAnalytics)
26: ? pic.twitter.com/4s4n7VToVX— ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ (@Arda) December 11, 2024
Next seven days: vs. LA (Dec. 14), @ STL (Dec. 15), @ NSH (Dec. 17)
Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 50.00%
The gift: A fresh start. The Blues are 5-2-1 since Jim Montgomery was hired as head coach on Nov. 25 (just five days after being fired by the Bruins). Aside from the surge that a new head coach can often bring to a lineup, Dylan Holloway has been particularly strong: He didn’t have a point in five games before Montgomery’s arrival, and now has a point in every game for the new coach, with four outings being multipoint efforts.
“He’s been a pleasant surprise,” Montgomery said. “I think he is the best example of how lucky I am to be the head coach of the St. Louis Blues because the whole team has surprised me with their willingness to grow, their willingness to get better, their willingness to compete.”
Next seven days: @ DAL (Dec. 14), vs. NYR (Dec. 15), vs. NJ (Dec. 17), @ TB (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 53.33%
The gift: Jamie Drysdale. This is a holiday-season gift that the Flyers already received. Back from an upper-body injury, Drysdale — who came to Philly in the Cutter Gauthier trade — has been excellent for the Flyers in the two games since his return. “Jamie’s a great learner. He asks great questions, he’s intent, he wants to learn,” assistant coach Brad Shaw told reporters. “And that is sometimes half the battle.”
Next seven days: @ MIN (Dec. 13), @ DET (Dec. 18), vs. LA (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 51.61%
The gift: New kids on the block. Shane Wright is riding a career-high four-game goal streak, with seven goals and 13 points in his first NHL season with more than eight games played. Head coach Dan Bylsma sat the 20-year-old for three games earlier in the season, and Wright got the message. “It allowed him to come back and since he’s come back, it’s not perfect, but he’s playing [unencumbered],” head coach Dan Bylsma said. “He’s not thinking about the right and wrong. He’s not thinking about other things. He’s just playing the game.”
Next seven days: vs. TB (Dec. 14), vs. OTT (Dec. 17), @ CHI (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 53.45%
The gift: More December, less November. Captain Clayton Keller had only one goal in the month of November, and it came on the last day of the month. He already has two in December, with points in four of his past five games. Keller was left off the U.S. roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off, but perhaps it will serve as motivation.
“When you’re not selected, you look yourself in the mirror and you go to work the next day with a little extra jump,” he said recently. “It’s maybe down the road the right thing for you at the time.”
Next seven days: @ SJ (Dec. 14), vs. VAN (Dec. 18)
Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 50.00%
The gift: A tight division. Four games ago, the Islanders were last in the Metro division and have since moved up two spots, and only two points away from fourth place. This is especially important since the Islanders have had a grueling stretch of games: 15 in November and their first three-day pause of the season coming in the third week of December.
Said coach Patrick Roy about Tuesday’s loss to the Kings, “[We] didn’t have our legs. I’m not looking for excuses, but the schedule’s [been] pretty tough.”
Next seven days: @ CHI (Dec. 15), @ CAR (Dec. 17)
Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 48.28%
The gift: More glow-ups. Zach Werenski was a player who wasn’t mentioned too often in 4 Nations conversations before the season started. But after a stellar start to the season — including 29 points through 28 games — he made Team USA. How he found out he was making the squad, reported by ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, is also pretty hilarious.
Next seven days: vs. ANA (Dec. 14), @ CAR (Dec. 15), @ TB (Dec. 17), vs. NJ (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 50.00%
The gift: Snipping down the grapevine. Brady Tkachuk has been the subject of trade rumors, well-founded or not, for a while now. The latest was the possibility of being involved in a trade to the Rangers involving Jacob Trouba, which obviously ended up being not true, with the now former Rangers captain going to Anaheim.
Tkachuk said this about the trade talk attached to his name: “It’s happened multiple times now and obviously it’s just not true. It would just be a waste of energy to get frustrated with something I can’t control.”
Next seven days: @ CAR (Dec. 13), vs. PIT (Dec. 14), @ SEA (Dec. 17), @ CGY (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 48.39%
The gift: Cheers. The Pens have won six of their past eight games. But after a 6-2 loss to the Avalanche on Tuesday, captain Sidney Crosby seemed a little miffed about the Pittsburgh crowd jeering the team. “It did [surprise me] little bit,” Crosby said. I think there’s been some times this season when we deserved it. I don’t think tonight was one of them.”
Next seven days: @ OTT (Dec. 14), vs. LA (Dec. 17), @ NSH (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 44.83%
The gift: More Lucas Raymond magic to spread. Raymond has been a bright spot for the Red Wings this season. He leads the team with 30 points, including 13 on the power play. He is consistently Detroit’s best offensive threat in a season in which the Wings haven’t had much offense. And a bonus gift: an end to bogus rumors.
Next seven days: vs. TOR (Dec. 14), vs. PHI (Dec. 18)
Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 44.83%
The gift: Hope. Enough is enough. It feels like a broken record, but bears repeating: The great city of Buffalo and their people deserve a playoff run from their Sabres. It has been too long. No more talking about the Sabres and New York Jets in the same playoff drought conversation, Buffalo deserves this. Unfortunately, losing to the New York Rangers on Wednesday — in a game many had circled as a “last straw” kind of feeling for both fan bases — definitely doesn’t help.
Next seven days: @ WSH (Dec. 14), @ TOR (Dec. 15), @ MTL (Dec. 17)
Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 42.86%
The gift: The right rite of passage for Trouba. The Jacob Trouba trade saga ended with the former Rangers captain being sent to the Ducks, reuniting with his good friend Frank Vatrano and having hockey fans hoping this tweet got called back.
Details are still emerging about the end of his tenure in New York. Said Trouba last Friday during a media call after the trade about how it went down: “[Thursday] morning was, ‘Accept this trade or we’re scratching you,’ I said, ‘OK.’ Then it was, ‘Accept this trade or you’re going on waivers,’ and I said, ‘OK.’ And then it got to a point where I felt comfortable with Anaheim and that was a place I wanted to go. I guess you could say I’m thankful that they made that happen. Unfortunate, I think, how it all happened. It’s a rite of passage to get fired at MSG.”
Next seven days: @ CBJ (Dec. 14), vs. WPG (Dec. 18)
Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 43.10%
The gift: More from Patrik Laine. The veteran scorer has been great in his debut for the Habs; three goals and an assist through his first four games. He’s also embracing the reactions he’s getting from fans. “That was the most outrageous thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life,” he told reporters after his home debut.
Coach Martin St. Louis is excited to have him in the lineup. “I know he’s a guy who’s going to help our power play, you see when he has the puck he’s a player people respect a lot, it opens up other players,” St. Louis said. “He has great patience, he’s calculated.”
Next seven days: @ WPG (Dec. 14), vs. BUF (Dec. 17)
Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 42.19%
The gift: Admin. After 10 years, the Sharks’ social media team blessed us with another hit single for the holiday season:
5:07
The San Jose Sharks went all out on their holiday track
Watch the San Jose Sharks celebrate the holiday season in the video for a new tune titled “Holiday Inflatables.”
It’s superb when players, alumni, broadcasters and the team come together to make fun, silly content. The beat sounds as if it belongs in 1989, which is wonderful. The credits at the end include “Special Appearance by Mackenzie Blackwood of the Colorado Avalanche,” as he was traded before the video was released.
The song also features these instant classic bars: “I’m not a good rapper, I’m not a good rhymer, but all my inflatables are set to a timer. I don’t gotta be home to throw the switch, my holiday display blows up without a hitch.”
Next seven days: vs. UTA (Dec. 14), vs. WPG (Dec. 17), vs. COL (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 34.48%
The gift: A reset button. The Hawks fired head coach Luke Richardson last week, replacing him with interim head coach Anders Sorensen, who was bench boss for the AHL affiliate in Rockford. GM Kyle Davidson noted that the results did not match the expectations for the team, and it was time for a new voice. “I had a good relationship with Luke, he’s a really good guy,” Connor Bedard told reporters. “In the end, it’s someone losing their job. Obviously, you build relationships with those guys and it’s sad seeing anyone go, for sure.”
Next seven days: @ NJ (Dec. 14), vs. NYI (Dec. 15), vs. WSH (Dec. 17), vs. SEA (Dec. 19)
Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 36.67%
The gift: A redo on the whole season. How did we get here? The Predators, touted by many as winners of the offseason, sit near the bottom of the standings with 22 points through 30 games. Jonathan Marchessault has 17 points, Steven Stamkos has 15. When head coach Andrew Brunette was asked if he would consider scratching any of his high-ticket players, he responded: “We could scratch every guy in our lineup. But unfortunately, we need players going. At different times, it for sure crosses your mind. But they have to earn it, you can’t just do it to do it. It’s a false thing to do where you try to create something … players see right through that.”
Next seven days: @ COL (Dec. 14), vs. NYR (Dec. 17), vs. PIT (Dec. 19)
Sports
A famous dad, the perfect swing and elite Fortnite skills: Meet MLB’s most fascinating hitter
Warning: What you’re about to read is Jacob Wilson‘s opinion. He is a professional baseball player — a very good one — and not a medical expert, but there are some things he is convinced are true, and this is one of them.
The 23-year-old Wilson, the Athletics’ wunderkind shortstop, is wise enough to understand that the sort of success he has found on the baseball field — a .347 batting average and a near-certain invitation to the All-Star Game coming — comes from a multitude of areas. He is the son of a longtime big leaguer, so certainly genetics helped, and he works relentlessly at his craft, which goes a long way. But the special sauce that built the American League Rookie of the Year favorite, he believes, included a secret ingredient.
Fortnite.
“Kids are going to love this one. Parents are going to hate me,” Wilson said. “I am a big believer in video games. It’s fast decision-making strategy. I think that gets me ready for the game, because when you’re in the box, you have to process a lot. So there’s some days where I’ll wake up and I’ll play video games and then I’ll go to the field, and I’ll have a good day. Some days I won’t play and don’t see the ball well. I think it really helps me train kind of the decision-making that I have to make six, seven hours later at the baseball field.”
Yes, one of the best hitters in the major leagues, a contact maven who strikes out with the infrequency of Tony Gwynn, swears that he’s as good as he is at a kid’s game because of his aptitude at another kid’s game. After Wilson wakes up, he deploys to his living room and parks in a chair. On the table in front of him sit a PC and a controller. He logs in to Fortnite — the 8-year-old game still played by millions every day — hops on the Battle Bus and systematically disposes of those with the misfortune of sharing a map with him.
“If we play a game with me and him and guys we know and you kill him once, you’re like, ‘That’s a good day,'” A’s infielder Max Muncy said. “You could play 50 rounds. Just once is good.”
Muncy has known of Wilson’s Fortnite exploits since they were teammates at Thousand Oaks (California) High, where Wilson’s father, former Pittsburgh shortstop Jack Wilson, coached. Back then, Jack actually questioned whether the game was interfering with Jacob’s baseball growth — though he understood his son’s reasoning. Over his 12-year big league career, Jack earned a reputation as one of the best pingpong players in the major leagues. It was pure reaction, not unlike hitting, and he complemented his pregame work in the batting cage with the brain training found in a paddle and hollow ball.
He saw the same opportunity in video games for his son — with a caveat.
“I do believe in the hand-eye coordination that video games give — as long as you do your homework,” Jack said. “Kids, if you’re reading, do your homework.”
The Wilsons are not alone in their belief that unconventional methods off the field can lead to success on it. Studies back up the suggestion that video games can be beneficial for brain activity. And considering the recognition being lavished on Jacob Wilson — he is more than a quarter-million votes ahead of Kansas City star Bobby Witt Jr. in All-Star balloting to be the American League’s starting shortstop — the benefits can be pronounced.
Of course, dropping into Anarchy Acres does not a big league hitter make. The story of Wilson’s ascent actually starts in his backyard, where he spent countless hours figuring out how to thrive in a game that simply isn’t built for hitters like him anymore.
Heaven for the Wilson family is a regulation-sized turfed infield with a FungoMan ground ball machine, a fence covered with famous retired numbers and stadium logos, a full dugout on the third-base side — and a grill stationed in center field in case someone gets hungry. The backyard of the family’s home is a testament to form and function, and it’s where Jacob learned how to be — and how not to be — like his father.
“It was a place built for guys who just love the grind of wanting to get better every day,” Jack said.
Jack’s bat was never as adept as his glove, and to last a dozen years in the big leagues, he needed countless reps to keep his fielding at a level that, according to Baseball-Reference, produced the fifth-most defensive wins above replacement this century, behind only Andrelton Simmons, Yadier Molina, Adrian Beltre and Kevin Kiermaier.
“You know that idea about being able to write a letter to your former self on what would you tell yourself now?” Jack said. “I get to do that with Jake. And I said, ‘You know, this is the way I hit. I don’t want you to hit like this.’ Because there were so many things I wish I could have done differently. If I were to build a perfect hitter, what would I do?”
He started with Miguel Cabrera. Wilson always admired how tall he stood in the batter’s box before sinking into his legs. Then it was Mike Trout. The simplicity of his swing has always been a marvel, but in particular Wilson appreciated the speed at which he loads his hands, allowing Trout to be on time even for 100 mph fastballs. The final lesson was Albert Pujols’ bat path, which was so flat and stayed in the zone for so long that it allowed him to sting the ball from foul pole to foul pole while maintaining strikeout numbers that were well below league average.
To hone that Voltron of a swing, a teenage Wilson would grip a custom wood bat with a 1½-inch barrel — an inch less than a standard big league barrel — and face his dad, who stood 45 feet away and ripped 85 mph fastballs and sliders using a tennis ball. If he didn’t catch the ball on the meat of the barrel, it would spin sideways, forcing him to learn to maneuver his bat with special dexterity.
The skinny bat made a regulation-sized model feel twice as big. When he took regular batting practice, Jacob always started by peppering the right side of the field on his first dozen swings. Even though Jacob was bigger than his father — at 6-foot-3, he is a comparatively imposing presence — Jack didn’t want him to fall into the trap of always trying to pull the ball. While that approach works for some hitters, Cabrera, Trout and Pujols embraced and embodied an all-fields approach.
By Wilson’s junior year in high school, the work started to pay off. Wilson didn’t strike out once all season. He didn’t punch out during his COVID-shortened senior season, either, then continued that trend at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, where his sophomore year he whiffed seven times in 275 plate appearances and his junior season had five punchouts in 217 times at the plate. Twice, he received a plaque from the NCAA for being the toughest hitter to strike out in college baseball.
The A’s took Wilson with the sixth pick in the loaded 2023 draft. Last year, he hit .433/.473/.668 with just 15 strikeouts in 226 plate appearances across three minor league levels and, just a year and 10 days after being drafted, he debuted in the big leagues.
In a world of launch angle and exit velocity, Wilson arrived in the majors wanting to be more like Luis Arráez and Nico Hoerner, contact artists nonpareil who value batting average and are allergic to strikeouts.
“I just take strikeouts so personally,” Wilson said. “It’s the one thing in this game that makes me more mad than anything. So I’ll go up there and I’ll swing at a pitch that’s maybe a couple inches off and take a base hit to right. So I think batting average definitely is a stat that should be seen and should matter for most hitters.”
Wilson’s swing is kinetic, with a wide-open stance that closes as he moves his legs and flaps his arms — a little Chicken Dance, a little Cabrera-Trout-Pujols. While he hasn’t always been this twitchy — “I’ve got to keep my muscles moving a little bit,” Wilson said — it works for him. He keeps the knob of the bat in the direction of the ball longer than most hitters, reminding himself to “stay inside the baseball,” a lesson preached ad nauseam by Jack. Aiming to strike the inside of the ball, Jacob said, keeps him from rolling over it. He lives by the old axiom “good hitters get jammed” and doesn’t shy away from flipping a duck snort between the infield and outfield.
The approach has served him well. After starting the year in the No. 9 hole, Wilson has hit first or second every game since May 7. Only Arráez has a lower strikeout rate than Wilson’s 6.8% — and Wilson has nine home runs compared with Arráez’s one. Of all the strikeout-averse hitters in the game, the one with a line most comparable to Wilson’s.347/.388/.487 is Cleveland third baseman Jose Ramirez, who is primed to play in his seventh All-Star Game this season.
“It’s not even his hits,” said Nick Kurtz, the A’s first baseman and fellow rookie. “I’ve seen multiple times where there’s a sinker up and in that was going to hit him, and he hit it to second base. Sometimes they’re a hit, sometimes they’re not. Every time, though, I’m like, ‘How the hell did he do that?’ Being able to touch it, not break your bat and go the other way with it? I’m at a loss for words.”
On April 5 at 11:13 p.m., Jack Wilson’s phone dinged. He had texted his son to congratulate him on a good team win by the A’s. Jacob didn’t want to hear it. He was mad. He had gone 1-for-4 with a two-run double, but that wasn’t good enough.
“I’m not a .250 hitter,” Jacob texted.
Jack laughed. He batted .265 in his career. It was enough to earn him more than $40 million playing. His son wants to be better — not because he’s greedy but because he’s capable of it.
“That’s a good thought process,” Jack said. “Because when I was a rookie and I got a hit, I was pumped. I always tell him, ‘Man, hitting is freaking hard.’ It’s just not going to be every day where your swing is on point and you match up. It’s just the way it is. So this has been a real learning experience. And it will be for a long time. The more he learns now, the better off he is in the future and hopefully spends a long time as an Athletic.”
The A’s are counting on their star shortstop as a linchpin of their impressive offensive core. Wilson is the fulcrum, Kurtz the powerhouse with a propensity for late-inning heroics. Designated hitter Brent Rooker and outfielder Lawrence Butler are both sluggers locked up to long-term deals. First baseman Tyler Soderstrom and catcher Shea Langeliers provide additional home run thump. Denzel Clarke is going to win multiple Gold Gloves in center field. If they can build a pitching staff to match, the team scheduled to move to Las Vegas for the 2028 season will be among the most exciting in baseball.
And it all starts with the kid who is definitely not a .250 hitter and definitely does take strikeouts personally.
“I mean, I’ve studied his swing,” Muncy said. “There’s things that he does so well that other guys don’t do that leads to that. And I think one of the things is probably just his mentality. He has always thought he could put it in play. I don’t think there’s ever been a guy where he is like, ‘I can’t put it in play.’ When you have that supplemental edge — I can put it in play no matter what — that helps.”
Every edge helps, be it bat-to-ball skills, burgeoning power or the ability to no-scope someone from 300 meters. Wilson has no plans to abandon his Fortnite reps. It’s part of his training now, and even if it doesn’t work for everyone, he sees Victory Royales leading to victories for the A’s.
“Everybody has their own approach and everybody’s here for a reason,” Wilson said. “This is the big leagues. Everybody is the best in the world at what they do.”
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