Jordan Wicks outlook grows murky after troubling Cubs spring training injury update

Chicago Cubs fans hoping that 2026 could be a bounce-back campaign for former first-round pick Jordan Wicks may want to think again. The Cubs announced their first wave of spring training roster cuts on Sunday, but they also revealed that Wicks and former closer Porter Hodge would be headed to the IL to start the season.

After tweaking some of his pitch grips during the offseason and altering his rotation, there had been renewed hope for Wicks entering spring training. Instead, Wicks was shut down early in camp after experiencing shoulder inflammation. At the time, the Cubs ruled out a UCL injury, but nerve irritation in his arm certainly doesn't sound like he will be returning to the pitching mound anytime soon.

Jordan Wicks' latest setback may signal the end of his time with the Cubs.

Wicks is still a pre-abritration player, and under control until 2031, but it would be safe to say that his future with the organization is headed in the wrong direction. Of course, injuries can't be held against him, but it may have reached the point where the Cubs aren't accounting for the former first-round pick when mapping long-term plans for their starting rotation.

The same may be the case for Porter Hodge. The Cubs spent nearly $30 million to reconstruct their bullpen, which appeared to confirm that the organization wasn't expecting much from Hodge during the 2026 season.

Hodge wasn't making the strongest of cases for himself either during spring training. He failed to record an inning of work in his first Cactus League outing this year, giving up 2 runs on 1 hit and 6 walks. His most recent outing wasn't much better, giving up 5 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks.

Injuries were at the center of Hodge's regression last year, even though he entered the 2025 season with some suggesting he should be the closer instead of Ryan Pressly. As it turns out, neither option would have stabilized the bullpen.

The injuries to Hodge and Wicks are a reminder of how quickly the outlook can change for a pitcher at the major league level. This time two years ago, it would have been reasonable to expect both arms to be long-term pieces that the Cubs could build their pitching staff around. That is no longer the case as the Cubs' plans moving forward will seemingly not factor in either pitcher.