View text source at Wikipedia

Jordan Wicks

Jordan Wicks
Wicks with the Iowa Cubs in 2023
Chicago Cubs – No. 36
Pitcher
Born: (1999-09-01) September 1, 1999 (age 25)
Conway, Arkansas, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 26, 2023, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record6–5
Earned run average5.02
Strikeouts66
Teams

Jordan Wicks (born September 1, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Amateur career

[edit]

Wicks attended Conway High School in Conway, Arkansas, where he played baseball and football.[1] In 2018, his senior year, he went 11–1 with a 0.86 ERA, and finished his high school career with a school record 1.39 ERA.[2] Undrafted in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at Kansas State University to play college baseball.

In 2019, Wicks' freshman year at Kansas State, he started 15 games and posted a 6-3 record with a 3.61 ERA, and was named the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year.[3][4] He set freshman program records with 86 strikeouts and 84+2⁄3 innings pitched.[5] As a sophomore in 2020, he started four games and gave up one earned run over 26 innings for a 0.35 ERA before the college baseball season was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] He spent that summer playing in the Northwoods League for the Rockford Rivets, compiling a 0.52 ERA with 52 strikeouts over 34+2⁄3 innings.[7] Prior to the 2021 season, he was unanimously named the Big 12 Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year.[8] For the 2021 season, Wicks went 6–3 with a 3.70 ERA over 14 starts, striking out 118 over 92+1⁄3 innings, earning All-Big 12 First Team honors.[9]

Professional career

[edit]

Wicks was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the first round with the 21st overall selection of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[10][11] This makes Wicks both the highest and the first ever first round draft pick to come out of Kansas State's baseball program.[12] He signed for a $3.1 million signing bonus.[13]

Wicks made his professional debut with the South Bend Cubs of the High-A Central, pitching seven innings while giving up four earned runs and three walks while striking out five.[14] He returned to South Bend to open the 2022 season.[15] In mid-July, he was promoted to the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-A Southern League.[16] Over 24 starts between the two teams, he went 4-6 with a 3.80 ERA and 121 strikeouts over 94+2⁄3 innings.[17] He returned to the Smokies open the 2023 season.[18] In late June, he was promoted to the Iowa Cubs of the Triple-A International League.[19] In 20 starts between the teams, he went 7-0 with a 3.55 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 91 and 1/3 innings.[20]

On August 26, 2023, Wicks was officially recalled by the Cubs to make his first career start against the Pittsburgh Pirates.[21] In 7 starts during his rookie campaign, he compiled a 4–1 record and 4.41 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 34+2⁄3 innings pitched.

Wicks began the 2024 campaign out of Chicago's rotation, logging a 4.18 ERA across 7 games (6 starts). He was placed on the injured list with a Grade 2 oblique strain on June 15,[22] and was transferred to the 60–day injured list on July 19.[23] Wicks was activated on September 1.[24]

Personal life

[edit]

Wicks is a Christian, having stated "God is the rock of my life. He is always there and he always loves me no matter what happens on that field.“[25]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Buying in: Conway's Wicks signs with Kansas State". September 24, 2018.
  2. ^ "Conway pitcher finishes stellar high school career". Arkansas Online. June 24, 2018.
  3. ^ Black, Ryan (May 22, 2019). "K-State's Jordan Wicks wins Big 12 Freshman of the Year". The Mercury.
  4. ^ "Jordan Wicks has best changeup in draft class". Baseball Prospect Journal. January 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Woods, Greg (February 13, 2020). "Behind Jordan Wicks' competitive fire and why he's riding it into his sophomore season at K-State". The Mercury.
  6. ^ The Wichita Eagle (subscription required)
  7. ^ Staff reports (September 3, 2020). "K-State's Jordan Wicks earns summer league award". The Mercury.
  8. ^ "Wicks named Big 12 Preseason Pitcher of the Year". January 27, 2021.
  9. ^ Kleinbard, D. J.; Manager, Site (May 31, 2021). "Jordan Wicks 2021 MLB Draft Profile".
  10. ^ "Jordan Wicks becomes highest MLB Draft pick in Kansas State Wildcats baseball history". The Wichita Eagle.
  11. ^ "Cubs draft KSU lefty Wicks in first round". MLB.com.
  12. ^ Black, Ryan (July 12, 2021). "Chicago Cubs select K-State pitcher Jordan Wicks in 1st round of MLB draft". The Mercury. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  13. ^ "Cubs, 1st-round pick Jordan Wicks agree to deal". sports.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  14. ^ "Cubs First Rounder Jordan Wicks Will Make His Full-Season Debut Tomorrow at South Bend". www.bleachernation.com. September 4, 2021.
  15. ^ "Who are these guys? A guide to the South Bend Cubs 2022 minor league baseball roster".
  16. ^ "Top Cubs pitching prospects Wicks, Herz promoted". July 15, 2022.
  17. ^ "Jordan Wicks Stats, Fantasy & News".
  18. ^ "Where the Cubs' Top 30 prospects are starting season". MLB.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  19. ^ "Chicago Cubs first-round pick Jordan Wicks promoted to Triple-A Iowa". The Des Moines Register.
  20. ^ "Jordan Wicks College, Amateur & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  21. ^ "Wicks called up, to start vs. Bucs in big league debut". MLB.com. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  22. ^ "Cubs' Jordan Wicks: IL move made official". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  23. ^ Adams, Steve (July 19, 2024). "Cubs Select Jesus Tinoco". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  24. ^ Deeds, Nick (August 31, 2024). "Cubs Activate Jordan Wicks From 60-Day IL". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  25. ^ Kruse, Ethan (September 7, 2021). "Jordan Wicks - Finding Consistency". His Huddle. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
[edit]