Bad news just keeps on coming for this former top Cubs pitching prospect

The 2025 campaign represented a pivotal point in the young career of former first-round pick Jordan Wicks. The 21st overall pick of the Chicago Cubs in the 2021 MLB Draft, Wicks has fallen on hard times in recent years, with the once-promising allure of his big-league debut now long-forgotten.

Wicks made his debut in August 2023, punching out nine over five innings of one-run ball in a victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates and everyone thought the early evaluations would prove to be spot-on: a polished college product ready to impact an MLB rotation sooner rather than later. Not an ace, no, but a reliable piece of the puzzle.

Unfortunately, that's not how things have played out, as Wicks has posted an ERA north of 5.00 at Triple-A Iowa over the last two years - and is now headed to the injured list.

In eight starts and a lone relief appearance with Iowa this year, Wicks has been largely ineffective, allowing nearly 11 hits per nine in 33 1/3 innings of work. That comes on the heels of a shortened 2024 campaign in which he struggled bouncing between Triple-A and the big leagues. In short, there haven't been many positives for the former Kansas State product.

The Cubs continue to ride their high-powered offense to win after win, but it's clear this pitching staff leaves much to be desired. And, at least for the time being, Wicks doesn't seem likely to factor into the equation, either as a potential call-up or trade chip given his struggles and now this trip to the IL.

Wicks, set to turn 26 in September, could still turn things around and get back on track. But it's clear he's not a sure-fire answer to the team's pitching depth woes at this time. Hopefully, this winds up being a short stay on the IL, because the Cubs are hoping for a bounceback season from the southpaw - and he hasn't exactly gotten off to the smoothest of starts.