2024 Spring Training Chicago Cubs' Top Prospects (#10-6)

Number 9 

Jordan Wicks LHP

Age: 24

2023 Level(s): AA Tennessee, AAA Iowa, MLB

Joined the organization via: 1st Round Pick in the 2021 Draft

2023 Stats: 91.1 IP, 3.55 ERA, 99/32 K/BB

At the midpoint last season we had Wicks as the 7th best prospect in the system. He ended up starting seven games for the Major League club and went an impressive 4-1 with a 4.41 ERA and yet he’s moved down in the rankings. It has significantly less to do with his play and instead, the skill of the system is simply so much more exciting than it was a couple of months ago. 

Last season we had this to say: 

"In an ideal world, Wicks isn’t someone we’re considering coming up unless there are significant injuries next season. With a rotation that includes Marcus Stroman, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Kyle Hendricks and Drew Smyly along with at least two guys that should be ahead of Wicks in the pecking order (Ben Brown and Hayden Wesneski) along with whatever other moves the Cubs make in the offseason, there’s a chance we don’t see Wicks for some time."

Cubbies Crib

Obviously, we didn’t find ourselves in an ideal world. Wicks was called upon much sooner than most would have expected and he handled himself in an extremely impressive manner, but he’s someone that could likely use a little more seasoning in AAA to start the season. 

The major difference between Wicks and someone like Brown, Cade Horton, or Jackson Ferris is upside. Wicks is the kind of pitcher that every good team needs. He’s a solid middle/back of the rotation arm that will eat innings, not walk a lot of guys, and strike out a fair amount. He’s a great pitcher for Wrigley Field and the defense that the Cubs have built, being predominantly a ground ball pitcher, but he doesn’t have the upside that other arms in the system have so he will likely not rise much further on future lists.