ARLINGTON, Texas – Grand Canyon shortstop Jacob Wilson did not wait long to hear his name called on the opening night of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday evening at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Wilson became the highest draft pick in Grand Canyon baseball history after the Oakland Athletics selected the top defensive player in the WAC with the sixth overall pick during the first round.
 
Wilson became the 37th player with WAC ties taken in the first round of the MLB Draft since 1965 and was the 21st conference player to be selected in the top 10. Wilson, the highest WAC baseball draft pick since 2004 (Philip Humber, RHP, Rice, third overall, New York Mets; Jeff Niemann, Rice, RHP, fourth overall, Tampa Bay Rays), is the highest primary position player from the WAC to be drafted since San Diego State first baseman Travis Lee was chosen second overall by the Minnesota Twins in 1996.
 
Wilson was named the 2023 WAC Defensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous first-team all-conference player after appearing in 49 games (48 starts) for Grand Canyon as a junior. Wilson batted .411 with six home runs, 61 RBI, a 1.096 OPS and 41 runs scored for the Lopes, adding a .948 fielding percentage in 174 chances at shortstop. Wilson’s totals across 23 WAC games included a .489 average, 15 extra-base hits, 30 RBI, a 1.297 OPS and 25 runs.
 
Rounds three through 10 of the 2023 MLB Draft are expected to resume on Monday at 11 a.m. PT in Seattle, with streaming available at MLB.com.
 
WAC In The 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft
 
Round 1
Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon (Overall Pick 6, Oakland Athletics)