Jordan Wicks Bio
Jordan Maslin Wicks, born on September 1, 1999, is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed starter, Wicks made his MLB debut in 2023 and has since been recognized as a promising young arm in the Cubs organization. After going undrafted out of high school, he built his profile at Kansas State University before becoming the highest-ever draft pick in the program’s history.
Early Life and Background
Jordan Wicks grew up in Conway, Arkansas, where he attended Conway High School. A multi-sport athlete, he played both baseball and football during his high school years, with baseball eventually emerging as his primary path forward. During his senior season in 2018, Wicks produced an 11–1 record with a 0.86 ERA, capping his high school career with a school-record 1.39 ERA.
Despite those numbers, Wicks went unselected in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. Rather than pursuing alternative routes into professional baseball immediately, he chose to continue his development at the collegiate level. He enrolled at Kansas State University, joining a Big 12 Conference program that had not previously produced a first-round MLB draft pick.
Path to Professional Baseball
Wicks stepped into the Kansas State rotation as a freshman in 2019 and quickly established himself, starting 15 games with a 6–3 record and a 3.61 ERA. He set freshman program records with 86 strikeouts and 84⅔ innings pitched, and was named the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year. His sophomore campaign in 2020 was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he made the most of limited opportunities, allowing just one earned run over 26 innings for a 0.35 ERA.
That summer, Wicks pitched for the Rockford Rivets of the Northwoods League, posting a 0.52 ERA with 52 strikeouts across 34⅔ innings, becoming the first Rivets alumnus to reach the major leagues. Entering 2021, he was unanimously named the Big 12 Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year, and he went on to record a 6–3 mark with a 3.70 ERA, 118 strikeouts in 92⅓ innings, and All-Big 12 First Team honors. His performance drew national attention and set the stage for a high draft selection.
Jordan Wicks Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
The Chicago Cubs selected Wicks with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft, making him the first and highest first-round selection in Kansas State baseball history. He signed with the Cubs for a $3.1 million bonus and opened his professional career with the South Bend Cubs of the High-A Central, pitching seven innings in his debut.
Wicks returned to South Bend to begin 2022 before earning a mid-July promotion to the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-A Southern League. Across 24 combined starts that season, he went 4–6 with a 3.80 ERA and 121 strikeouts over 94⅔ innings, continuing to refine his craft against more advanced competition.
Minor League Progression and MLB Debut (2023)
Wicks opened 2023 back with the Tennessee Smokies before a late-June promotion to the Iowa Cubs of the Triple-A International League. Across 20 total starts that year, he went 7–0 with a 3.55 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 91⅓ innings, building a strong case for a major league opportunity.
On August 26, 2023, the Cubs officially recalled Wicks to make his first career start against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In seven starts during his rookie campaign, he compiled a 4–1 record and a 4.41 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 34⅔ innings, offering a glimpse of his long-term potential.
Chicago Cubs Era (2024–Present)
Wicks entered the 2024 season in Chicago’s starting rotation and posted a 4.18 ERA across seven appearances, including six starts. His progress was interrupted in mid-June, however, when a Grade 2 oblique strain landed him on the injured list, and he was transferred to the 60-day injured list in mid-July. After his activation on September 1, he finished the year with a 2–4 record and a 5.48 ERA, along with 42 strikeouts in 46 innings across 10 starts.
Heading into 2025, Wicks remained part of the Cubs’ pitching plans as the organization continued to develop its young arms. His combination of strikeout ability and minor league success positioned him as a rotation option with room to grow.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wicks is recognized for his command and poise on the mound, attributes that have translated across every level of his development. His college and minor league track record features strong strikeout totals, including 118 in 92⅓ innings during his final Kansas State season and 121 in 94⅔ innings across the South Bend and Tennessee affiliates in 2022. He has consistently limited hard contact and shown the ability to work deep into outings.
Notable Events and Milestones
Becoming Kansas State’s first-ever first-round draft pick and the highest selection in program history stands as a defining milestone in Wicks’ career. His major league debut on August 26, 2023, against the Pittsburgh Pirates marked the culmination of a long development arc, while his time with the Rockford Rivets added a notable off-field distinction as the first Rivets alumnus to reach the majors.
Jordan Wicks Career Wins
Jordan Wicks has notched a series of accomplishments across his amateur, minor league, and major league career. While he has yet to record a full MLB season defined by win totals, his minor league résumé includes an undefeated 7–0 campaign in 2023 split between Tennessee and Iowa, and his rookie MLB season produced a 4–1 record across seven starts.
Minor League Highlights
Wicks’ most recent professional win total came in 2023, when he went 7–0 with a 3.55 ERA in 20 starts between the Tennessee Smokies and the Iowa Cubs. His first full minor league season in 2022 saw him combine for a 4–6 record and a 3.80 ERA over 24 starts with South Bend and Tennessee, collecting 121 strikeouts along the way. These results helped establish him as one of the Cubs’ top pitching prospects.
Jordan Wicks Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Detailed information about Jordan Wicks’ family background is not widely documented in public sources. He grew up in Conway, Arkansas, and has spoken about the role of faith in his life, describing himself as a Christian and noting the importance of his religious beliefs in navigating the demands of professional baseball. Beyond his Arkansas roots and stated faith, additional verified details about his parents or siblings are not currently available.
2025 Season Performance
Jordan Wicks approached the 2025 season coming off an injury-shortened 2024 campaign that ended with a 2–4 record and a 5.48 ERA across 10 starts. After recovering from a Grade 2 oblique strain, he was activated on September 1, 2024, and entered the new year healthy and competing for a spot in the Cubs’ rotation. His minor league track record, particularly his 7–0 showing in 2023, suggested that better health could lead to a more consistent major league season.
Wicks’ development remained a priority for the Cubs, who continued to lean on his command and strikeout ability as he worked to lower his ERA and extend his outings. The 2025 storyline centered on whether he could turn his 2023 promise into a full year of dependable major league production. With continued health and refined execution, Wicks was positioned to play a meaningful role in Chicago’s pitching staff while building on his growing list of accomplishments.