The Chicago Cubs are slowly having their roster take shape and form into a roster strong enough to make a run at the postseason this year.
The Cubs have made several moves to make that dream a reality, the latest of which was acquiring All-Star Closer Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros to lock down the backend of their bullpen.
Even though Pressly brings so much value to the Cub’s bullpen and makes them far and away better than they were last season the Cubs still could use one more reliever to complete the bullpen.
The Cubs have quite a few options internally they could turn to instead of signing a free agent and one of those potential options could be left-hander Jordan Wicks.
The Chicago Cubs undervalued lefty
The now 25-year-old Wicks was Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the first round 21st overall of the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. Wicks made his Major League Debut two years later where he was very impressive, throwing 5 innings, allowing 2 hits, striking out 9, with giving up 1 walk, and 1 earned run while receiving the win in the decision. Wicks is entering his third year in the league and the Cubs will need him to take a big step in his development this season and show whether he is worthy of a spot in the rotation or be a left-handed option out of the pen.
Wicks was not all too great for the Cubs last season posting a 2-4 record with a 5.48 ERA in 10 starts and 46.0 innings pitch. He also posted a really high 1.630 WHIP and allowed 10.8 hits per nine. Wicks didn’t fare too well down in the minors either having a 0-4 record in seven starts (21.0 innings) with a 5.57 ERA.
There are upsides to Wicks’s game that do bode well for him with ranking in the 88th percentile for his offspeed run value and in the 82nd percentile when it came to chase percentage at 31.7%. Wicks also fared well during day games last season having a 1-2 record and a 3.54 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 6 starts (28.0 innings).
Wicks is coming into 2025 and looking to make an impact
Wicks was recently interviewed by Marquee Sports Network and was very excited to start the season where he is coming into the year where he stated he lost about 20 lbs this offseason.
“We’ve been doing a lot of stuff,” the lefty said in an interview with Marquee Sports Network’s Elise Menaker at Cubs Convention. “A lot of it is cleaner eating, just taking care of what we’re eating. I’ve lost about 20 pounds, doing pilates twice a week. There’s nothing more humbling than going to pilates twice a week and having your wife kick your butt every time you go there.”
Wicks also added that he is aware that he is in the mix to be in both the starting rotation and the bullpen with him making that one of the main focuses of his offseason.
“I think it’s focusing more on the details from day to day. Being able to focus each and every day of, ‘okay, I got to get my body in the best shape possible for the next day, whatever that means.’ You could be up out of the bullpen the next day or whether you’re on a five-day [routine], it’s understanding how those things change and what I need to do to get my body in a position to do that,” Wicks said.”
Having Wicks available to be used either in the rotation in case an injury happens or out of the bullpen is very valuable for the Cubs to have. Coming into camp with that much weight off should help Wicks be a better pitcher this season. Not having all that extra weight should allow Wicks to get more extension down the mound and allow for more “finish” in his pitches to get both added velocity and break.
A valuable man on the roster
Having Wicks take a big step this season would be impactful for the Cubs to say the least.
Wicks could provide the Cubs with a multiple-inning reliever and be a “bridge” in case a player can go long or make a spot start when necessary.
Hopefully, all the work Wicks put in this offseason pays off and culminates in success this season, not only for him but for the Cubs as well.
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