Jordan Wicks
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Jordan Wicks
|image = Jordan Wicks (53014530995) (cropped).jpg
|caption = Wicks with the Iowa Cubs in 2023
|team = Chicago Cubs
|number = 36
|position = Pitcher
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|9|1}}
|birth_place = Conway, Arkansas, U.S.
|bats = Left
|throws = Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = August 26
|debutyear = 2023
|debutteam = Chicago Cubs
|statyear = April 20, 2025
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label = Win–loss record
|stat1value = 6–6
|stat2label = Earned run average
|stat2value = 5.23
|stat3label = Strikeouts
|stat3value = 68
|teams =
- Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2023}}–present)
}}
Jordan Maslin Wicks{{cite web |title=Fall Commencement 2023 |url=https://www.k-state.edu/graduation/ceremonies/program/2023-Fall-Commencement.pdf |publisher=Kansas State University |access-date=9 May 2025 |page=34}} (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
Wicks attended Conway High School in Conway, Arkansas, where he played baseball and football.{{Cite web|url=https://501lifemag.com/buying-in-conways-wicks-signs-with-kansas-state/|title=Buying in: Conway's Wicks signs with Kansas State|date=September 24, 2018}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/jun/24/conway-pitcher-finishes-stellar-high-school-career/|title=Conway pitcher finishes stellar high school career|date=June 24, 2018|website=Arkansas Online}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://themercury.com/k_state_sports/k-states-jordan-wicks-wins-big-12-freshman-of-the-year/article_3632af91-ce11-5578-a3fb-c9fb109a1972.html|title=K-State's Jordan Wicks wins Big 12 Freshman of the Year|first=Ryan|last=Black|website=The Mercury|date=May 22, 2019 }}{{Cite web|url=https://baseballprospectjournal.com/jordan-wicks-has-best-changeup-in-draft-class/|title=Jordan Wicks has best changeup in draft class|date=January 18, 2021|website=Baseball Prospect Journal}} He set freshman program records with 86 strikeouts and {{frac|84|2|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|url=https://themercury.com/k_state_sports/behind-jordan-wicks-competitive-fire-and-why-he-s-riding-it-into-his-sophomore-season/article_18cf246a-7c61-54e0-98e2-0cee1d07eca9.html|title=Behind Jordan Wicks' competitive fire and why he's riding it into his sophomore season at K-State|first=Greg|last=Woods|website=The Mercury|date=February 13, 2020 }} 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.[https://www.kansas.com/sports/college/big-12/kansas-state/article241298951.html The Wichita Eagle] (subscription required) He spent that summer playing in the Northwoods League for the Rockford Rivets, compiling a 0.52 ERA with 52 strikeouts over {{frac|34|2|3}} innings.{{Cite web|url=https://themercury.com/k_state_sports/k-states-jordan-wicks-earns-summer-league-award/article_d9f5f35c-3365-57bc-be3d-fcf9f0a34ac2.html|title=K-State's Jordan Wicks earns summer league award|author=Staff reports|website=The Mercury|date=September 3, 2020 }} Prior to the 2021 season, he was unanimously named the Big 12 Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksnt.com/sports/wicks-named-big-12-preseason-pitcher-of-the-year/|title=Wicks named Big 12 Preseason Pitcher of the Year|date=January 27, 2021}} For the 2021 season, Wicks went 6–3 with a 3.70 ERA over 14 starts, striking out 118 over {{fraction|92|1|3}} innings, earning All-Big 12 First Team honors.{{Cite web|url=https://lastwordonsports.com/baseball/2021/05/30/jordan-wicks-2021-mlb-draft-profile/|title=Jordan Wicks 2021 MLB Draft Profile|first1=D. J.|last1=Kleinbard|first2=Site|last2=Manager|date=May 31, 2021}}
Professional career
Wicks was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the first round with the 21st overall selection of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kansas.com/sports/college/big-12/kansas-state/article252722408.html|title=Jordan Wicks becomes highest MLB Draft pick in Kansas State Wildcats baseball history|website=The Wichita Eagle}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jordan-wicks-is-cubs-first-round-pick-in-2021-mlb-draft|title=Cubs draft KSU lefty Wicks in first round|website=MLB.com}} This makes Wicks both the highest and the first ever first round draft pick to come out of Kansas State's baseball program.{{Cite web|last=Black|first=Ryan|title=Chicago Cubs select K-State pitcher Jordan Wicks in 1st round of MLB draft|url=https://themercury.com/k_state_sports/chicago-cubs-select-k-state-pitcher-jordan-wicks-in-1st-round-of-mlb-draft/article_e7351ce3-27b3-53fe-b907-9df50b7b113c.html|access-date=August 4, 2021|website=The Mercury|date=July 12, 2021 |language=en}} He signed for a $3.1 million signing bonus.{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/cubs-1st-round-pick-jordan-211105805.html|title=Cubs, 1st-round pick Jordan Wicks agree to deal|website=sports.yahoo.com|access-date=July 16, 2021|archive-date=July 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716224450/https://sports.yahoo.com/cubs-1st-round-pick-jordan-211105805.html|url-status=dead}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2021/09/04/cubs-first-rounder-jordan-wicks-will-make-his-full-season-debut-tomorrow-at-south-bend/|title=Cubs First Rounder Jordan Wicks Will Make His Full-Season Debut Tomorrow at South Bend|website=www.bleachernation.com|date=September 4, 2021 }} He returned to South Bend to open the 2022 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/sports/2022/04/08/minor-league-baseball-south-bend-cubs-midwest-league-cubs-affiliate/9484860002/ | title=Who are these guys? A guide to the South Bend Cubs 2022 minor league baseball roster }} In mid-July, he was promoted to the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-A Southern League.{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/cubs-prospects-jordan-wicks-dj-herz-promoted-double | title=Top Cubs pitching prospects Wicks, Herz promoted | date=July 15, 2022 }} Over 24 starts between the two teams, he went 4-6 with a 3.80 ERA and 121 strikeouts over {{fraction|94|2|3}} innings.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/player/jordan-wicks-696136 | title=Jordan Wicks Stats, Fantasy & News }} He returned to the Smokies open the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/where-cubs-top-prospects-are-starting-2023-season|title=Where the Cubs' Top 30 prospects are starting season|website=MLB.com|accessdate=June 29, 2023}} In late June, he was promoted to the Iowa Cubs of the Triple-A International League.{{cite web | url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/iowa-cubs/2023/06/27/jordan-wicks-promotion-triple-a-iowa-cubs-chicago-cubs-minor-leagues-kansas-state-2021-mlb-draft/70361000007/ | title=Chicago Cubs first-round pick Jordan Wicks promoted to Triple-A Iowa | website=The Des Moines Register }} In 20 starts between the teams, he went 7-0 with a 3.55 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 91 and 1/3 innings.{{Cite web |title=Jordan Wicks College, Amateur & Minor Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=wicks-000jor |access-date=August 26, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
On August 26, 2023, Wicks was officially recalled by the Cubs to make his first career start against the Pittsburgh Pirates.{{Cite web |title=Wicks called up, to start vs. Bucs in big league debut |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jordan-wicks-called-up-to-cubs-for-major-league-debut |access-date=August 26, 2023 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} In 7 starts during his rookie campaign, he compiled a 4–1 record and 4.41 ERA with 24 strikeouts over {{fraction|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,{{Cite web|title=Cubs' Jordan Wicks: IL move made official|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cubs-jordan-wicks-il-move-made-official/|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=cbssports.com|date=June 15, 2024 |language=en}} and was transferred to the 60–day injured list on July 19.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Steve |date=July 19, 2024 |title=Cubs Select Jesus Tinoco |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/07/cubs-select-jesus-tinoco.html |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} Wicks was activated on September 1.{{Cite web |last=Deeds |first=Nick |date=August 31, 2024 |title=Cubs Activate Jordan Wicks From 60-Day IL |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/cubs-to-activate-jordan-wicks-from-60-day-il-tomorrow.html |access-date=October 25, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}
Personal life
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.“{{cite web |last1=Kruse |first1=Ethan |title=Jordan Wicks - Finding Consistency |url=https://hishuddle.com/2021/09/07/jordan-wicks/?fbclid=IwAR1l7JMVjf8i9PtOG1ORECQIUes2Kin2KIDHJwOrn-Mckc-Mj-KUHDLB0iE |website=His Huddle |date=September 7, 2021 |access-date=December 9, 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=696136|espn=4420749|br=w/wicksjo01|fangraphs=30094|brm=wicks-000jor|retro=W/Pwickj001}}
- [https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/jordan-wicks/7893 Kansas State bio]
{{2021 MLB Draft}}
{{Chicago Cubs first-round draft picks}}
{{Chicago Cubs roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wicks, Jordan}}
Category:Baseball players from Arkansas
Category:Kansas State Wildcats baseball players
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:People from Conway, Arkansas
Category:South Bend Cubs players