Jordan Wicks

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #7 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Medium
  
  Track Record: Wicks led the Big 12 Conference in strikeouts as a junior and set Kansas State records for strikeouts in a single season (118) and a career (230). The Cubs drafted him 21st overall in 2021, making him the highest Wildcats player ever drafted. Wicks quickly reached Double-A in his first full season and cruised through upper levels of the minors in 2023. He received his first major league callup in late August and went 4-1, 4.41 in seven starts down the stretch with the Cubs in the playoff race.
  
  Scouting Report: Wicks is a sturdy, 6-foot-3, 220-pound lefthander who relies on command and changing speeds. His deep, six-pitch mix is topped by four-seam and two-seam fastballs that each sit 91-94 mph. Both are average pitches he commands to get ahead in counts and stay off of barrels. The jewel of Wicks’ arsenal is a plus 80-83 mph changeup with late tumble and drop that gets awkward swings and misses. He sells his changeup with his arm speed and is comfortable throwing it in any count to both lefties and righties. Wicks’ sweeping, 82-84 mph slider is an average pitch he throws to lefties, and he added a new 88-90 mph cutter in 2023 to give him another weapon for righties. His below-average, upper-70s curveball is a change-of-pace offering. Wicks’ stuff isn’t loud, but he is a smart, tough competitor who mixes his pitches effectively to keep hitters off-balance. His stuff plays up with his deceptive, crossfire delivery, which he is strong and athletic enough to maintain for average control.
  
  The Future: Wicks projects to be a solid No. 4 starter who thrives on drawing weak contact. He is ready to fill that role now and should break camp in the Opening Day rotation.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #11 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Wicks set Kansas State's single-season and career strikeout records and became the first Wildcats player drafted in the first round when the Cubs selected him 21st overall in 2021. He signed for $3.1 million and moved quickly to Double-A in his first full season in 2022. Wicks finished fifth in the Cubs system with 121 strikeouts and had only 28 walks in his full-season debut--the third-best strikeout-to-walk ratio among organization starters.
  
  Scouting Report: Wicks keeps batters off balance with a deep, five-pitch mix. His four-seam fastball is an average pitch that ranges from 91-96 mph with cut and ride and his two-seamer sits at the same velocity with late run. He mixes in an average, low-80s slider that runs away from lefties, and he occasionally drops in a below-average, mid-70s curveball for strikes. All of them serve to set up Wicks' changeup, a plus pitch at 79-83 mph with late tumble and drop that he sells with his arm speed. He is comfortable throwing his changeup to both lefties and righties and gets awkward, off-balance swings and misses over the top in any count. His changeup particularly confounds righthanders, and he is a reverse-splits pitcher who is better against righties than lefties as a result. Wicks falls into deep counts and isn't very pitch efficient, but he makes pitches in big spots to avoid walking batters.
  
  The Future: Wicks projects to settle in as a reliable, back-end starter. He has a chance to make his major league debut in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Curveball: 40. Changeup: 60. Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #5 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Wicks led the Big 12 Conference in strikeouts last spring and set Kansas State’s single-season (118) and career (230) strikeout records despite playing only two full seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Cubs considered him a top 10 talent in the draft and were happily surprised he was available at No. 21, where they quickly selected him to make him the first Kansas State player ever picked in the first round. Wicks signed for $3,132,300 and made his brief pro debut with four abbreviated starts at Low-A Myrtle Beach.
  
  Scouting Report: Wicks is a polished lefthander who pounds the strike zone with five pitches. His four-seam and two-seam fastball both sit 92-93 mph and touch 95, and they each play up with late movement and deception out of his slightly crossfire delivery. His four-seamer gets excellent carry through the zone with cut and ride and his two-seamer features late run. Wicks expertly mixes his secondary pitches, headlined by a plus-plus changeup that was the best in the 2021 draft class. It’s a tumbling pitch with late drop in the low 80s that he sells with his arm speed and gets early swings and misses. Wicks’ mid-80s slider has improved to become an above-average pitch and his upper-70s curveball is a usable offering. Wicks works quickly and fills up the strike zone with plus control. He is an outstanding teammate who is eager to learn.
  
  The Future: Wicks has weapons to get both righthanded and lefthanded hitters out and should move quickly up the minors. He projects to settle in as a No. 3 or 4 starter similar to Marco Gonzales.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #13 prospect in 2021 draft
  With arguably the best changeup in the draft class, intriguing fastball metrics and a track record of performance, Wicks could easily become Kansas State’s first-ever first-rounder, and the first lefthander off the board in July. The solidly-built, 6-foot-3, 220-pound southpaw has been up to 95 mph in all of his outings this year for the Wildcats, regularly sitting 92-93 with run, cut, and ride to his fastball that allows for incredible deception and disappearing action. His low-80s changeup is his most lethal weapon, and the Arkansas native relies on the plus-plus offering as much as any guy with a 70-grade secondary would. Wicks has improved his slider from being fringe-average at best to flashing plus throughout the 2021 season, and he has a curveball in the upper 70s to round out his repertoire. The lefty has great feel to pitch and extreme competitiveness that have helped him find success in the Big 12 Conference, despite pitching in a hitter-friendly home park in front of a defense that he hasn’t always been able to rely on. Wicks has earned multiple honors in each of his three years at Kansas State, consistently performing and improving. Following up his summer in the Northwoods League, where the 21-year-old posted a 0.45 ERA over four starts and 20 innings with a 29-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio, this season for the Wildcats, Wicks made 15 starts and threw 92.1 innings. He posted a 3.70 ERA, allowing 90 hits and an opponent average of .249, walking 28 and striking out 118. In 203 career innings in the Big 12, he walked 58 and struck out 230. Wicks is a high-floor lefthanded strike-thrower with a history of college performance, and there just aren’t many like him in the draft class. Though he’s not a flamethrower, he can’t be labeled a ‘vanilla stuff’ pitcher with his standout changeup and the fact that his fastball plays like an invisiball.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Wicks set Kansas State's single-season and career strikeout records and became the first Wildcats player drafted in the first round when the Cubs selected him 21st overall in 2021. He signed for $3.1 million and moved quickly to Double-A in his first full season in 2022. Wicks finished fifth in the Cubs system with 121 strikeouts and had only 28 walks in his full-season debut--the third-best strikeout-to-walk ratio among organization starters.
  
  Scouting Report: Wicks keeps batters off balance with a deep, five-pitch mix. His four-seam fastball is an average pitch that ranges from 91-96 mph with cut and ride and his two-seamer sits at the same velocity with late run. He mixes in an average, low-80s slider that runs away from lefties, and he occasionally drops in a below-average, mid-70s curveball for strikes. All of them serve to set up Wicks' changeup, a plus pitch at 79-83 mph with late tumble and drop that he sells with his arm speed. He is comfortable throwing his changeup to both lefties and righties and gets awkward, off-balance swings and misses over the top in any count. His changeup particularly confounds righthanders, and he is a reverse-splits pitcher who is better against righties than lefties as a result. Wicks falls into deep counts and isn't very pitch efficient, but he makes pitches in big spots to avoid walking batters.
  
  The Future: Wicks projects to settle in as a reliable, back-end starter. He has a chance to make his major league debut in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Curveball: 40. Changeup: 60. Control: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Wicks set Kansas State's single-season and career strikeout records and became the first Wildcats player drafted in the first round when the Cubs selected him 21st overall in 2021. He signed for $3.1 million and moved quickly to Double-A in his first full season in 2022. Wicks finished fifth in the Cubs system with 121 strikeouts and had only 28 walks in his full-season debut--the third-best strikeout-to-walk ratio among organization starters.
  
  Scouting Report: Wicks keeps batters off balance with a deep, five-pitch mix. His four-seam fastball is an average pitch that ranges from 91-96 mph with cut and ride and his two-seamer sits at the same velocity with late run. He mixes in an average, low-80s slider that runs away from lefties, and he occasionally drops in a below-average, mid-70s curveball for strikes. All of them serve to set up Wicks' changeup, a plus pitch at 79-83 mph with late tumble and drop that he sells with his arm speed. He is comfortable throwing his changeup to both lefties and righties and gets awkward, off-balance swings and misses over the top in any count. His changeup particularly confounds righthanders, and he is a reverse-splits pitcher who is better against righties than lefties as a result. Wicks falls into deep counts and isn't very pitch efficient, but he makes pitches in big spots to avoid walking batters.
  
  The Future: Wicks projects to settle in as a reliable, back-end starter. He has a chance to make his major league debut in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Curveball: 40. Changeup: 60. Control: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Wicks led the Big 12 Conference in strikeouts last spring and set Kansas State&#39s single-season (118) and career (230) strikeout records despite playing only two full seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Cubs considered him a top-10 talent in the draft and were happily surprised he was available at No. 21, where they quickly selected him to make him the first Kansas State player ever drafted in the first round. Wicks signed for $3,132,300 and made his brief pro debut with four starts at Low-A Myrtle Beach.
  
  Scouting Report: Wicks is a polished lefthander who pounds the strike zone with five pitches. His four-seam fastball and two-seam fastball both sit 92-93 mph and touch 95, and they each play up with late movement and deception out of his slightly crossfire delivery. His four-seamer gets excellent carry through the zone with cut and ride and his two-seamer features late run. Wicks&#39 expertly mixes his secondary pitches, headlined by a plus-plus changeup that was the best in the 2021 draft class. It&#39s a tumbling pitch with late drop in the low-80s that he sells with his arm speed and gets early swings and misses. Wicks&#39 mid-80s slider has improved to become an above-average pitch and his upper-70s curveball is a usable offering. Wicks works quickly and fills up the strike zone with plus control. He is an outstanding teammate who is eager to learn.
  
  The Future: Wicks has weapons to get both righthanded and lefthanded hitters out and should move quickly up the minors. He projects to settle in as a No. 3 or 4 starter similar to Marco Gonzales.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 45. Slider: 55. Changeup: 70. Control: 60.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Wicks led the Big 12 Conference in strikeouts last spring and set Kansas State’s single-season (118) and career (230) strikeout records despite playing only two full seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Cubs considered him a top 10 talent in the draft and were happily surprised he was available at No. 21, where they quickly selected him to make him the first Kansas State player ever picked in the first round. Wicks signed for $3,132,300 and made his brief pro debut with four abbreviated starts at Low-A Myrtle Beach.
  
  Scouting Report: Wicks is a polished lefthander who pounds the strike zone with five pitches. His four-seam and two-seam fastball both sit 92-93 mph and touch 95, and they each play up with late movement and deception out of his slightly crossfire delivery. His four-seamer gets excellent carry through the zone with cut and ride and his two-seamer features late run. Wicks expertly mixes his secondary pitches, headlined by a plus-plus changeup that was the best in the 2021 draft class. It’s a tumbling pitch with late drop in the low 80s that he sells with his arm speed and gets early swings and misses. Wicks’ mid-80s slider has improved to become an above-average pitch and his upper-70s curveball is a usable offering. Wicks works quickly and fills up the strike zone with plus control. He is an outstanding teammate who is eager to learn.
  
  The Future: Wicks has weapons to get both righthanded and lefthanded hitters out and should move quickly up the minors. He projects to settle in as a No. 3 or 4 starter similar to Marco Gonzales.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  With arguably the best changeup in the draft class, intriguing fastball metrics and a track record of performance, Wicks became Kansas State's first-ever first-rounder. The solidly-built, 6-foot-3, 220-pound southpaw has been up to 95 mph in all of his outings this year for the Wildcats, regularly sitting 92-93 with run, cut, and ride to his fastball that allows for incredible deception and disappearing action. His low-80s changeup is his most lethal weapon, and the Arkansas native relies on the plus-plus offering as much as any guy with a 70-grade secondary would. Wicks has improved his slider from being fringe-average at best to flashing plus throughout the 2021 season, and he has a curveball in the upper 70s to round out his repertoire. The lefty has great feel to pitch and extreme competitiveness that have helped him find success in the Big 12 Conference, despite pitching in a hitter-friendly home park in front of a defense that he hasn't always been able to rely on. Wicks has earned multiple honors in each of his three years at Kansas State, consistently performing and improving. Following up his summer in the Northwoods League, where the 21-year-old posted a 0.45 ERA over four starts and 20 innings with a 29-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio, this season for the Wildcats, Wicks made 15 starts and threw 92.1 innings. He posted a 3.70 ERA, allowing 90 hits and an opponent average of .249, walking 28 and striking out 118. In 203 career innings in the Big 12, he walked 58 and struck out 230. Wicks is a high-floor lefthanded strike-thrower with a history of college performance, and there just aren't many like him in the draft class. Though he's not a flamethrower, he can't be labeled a ‘vanilla stuff' pitcher with his standout changeup and the fact that his fastball plays like an invisiball.