Jordan Wicks Bio
Jordan Maslin Wicks is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed starter, he made his MLB debut in 2023 and has developed into a rotation option for Chicago. Wicks is the first-ever first-round draft pick to come out of the Kansas State University baseball program.
Born on September 1, 1999, Wicks starred at Conway High School in Arkansas before starring at Kansas State. Selected by the Cubs in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft, he has since moved steadily through the minor leagues and onto the major-league roster, posting a 6–8 career record through late May 2026.
Early Life and Background
Jordan Maslin Wicks grew up in Conway, Arkansas, where he attended Conway High School. A multi-sport athlete, he played both baseball and football for the Wampus Cats and quickly emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in the state. As a high-school pitcher, he showed command well beyond his years and a competitive streak that has carried through his professional career.
In his senior season of 2018, Wicks went 11–1 with a 0.86 ERA, finishing his high-school career with a school-record 1.39 ERA. Despite those numbers, he went undrafted in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. Rather than sign as a late-round pick, he chose to honor his commitment to Kansas State University and continue developing on the college stage.
Path to Professional Baseball
Wicks enrolled at Kansas State, where he wasted little time making an impact. As a freshman in 2019, he started 15 games and went 6–3 with a 3.61 ERA, earning Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year honors. He set freshman program records with 86 strikeouts and 84⅔ innings pitched, instantly establishing himself as one of the Wildcats’ most reliable arms.
His sophomore season in 2020 was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic after just four starts, but he posted a 0.35 ERA over 26 innings before play stopped. That summer he pitched for the Rockford Rivets of the Northwoods League, where a 0.52 ERA and 52 strikeouts over 34⅔ innings made him the first former Rivet to reach the majors. Entering 2021, he was a unanimous Big 12 Preseason Pitcher of the Year, and he finished that season 6–3 with a 3.70 ERA, 118 strikeouts, and All-Big 12 First Team honors.
Jordan Wicks Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
The Chicago Cubs selected Wicks with the 21st overall pick of the 2021 MLB draft, making him the highest-drafted player ever out of Kansas State. He signed for a $3.1 million bonus and made his professional debut with the High-A South Bend Cubs, pitching seven innings in his first outing.
In 2022, Wicks returned to South Bend to open the year before a mid-July promotion to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. Across 24 combined starts between the two affiliates, he went 4–6 with a 3.80 ERA and 121 strikeouts over 94⅔ innings, showing the kind of strikeout profile scouts had projected when the Cubs drafted him.
Chicago Cubs Debut (2023)
Wicks opened 2023 back at Tennessee before a late-June promotion to Triple-A Iowa, where he went 7–0 with a 3.55 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 91⅓ innings. That performance earned him a major-league call-up on August 26, 2023. He made his MLB debut that day against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out nine in a 10–6 Cubs victory.
In his first seven big-league starts, Wicks went 4–1 with a 4.41 ERA and 24 strikeouts over 34⅔ innings, providing a steadying presence for a young Cubs rotation. His poise on the mound and ability to miss bats immediately drew praise from the Chicago coaching staff.
Chicago Cubs Rotation (2024)
Wicks earned a spot on Chicago’s 2024 Opening Day roster, joining the starting rotation out of spring training. He made ten starts before a Grade 2 oblique strain placed him on the injured list on June 15. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 19 before being activated on September 1. In his ten starts that season, he went 2–4 with a 5.48 ERA and 42 strikeouts across 46 innings.
Iowa and Chicago (2025)
To begin 2025, Wicks was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. He was recalled by the Cubs for the first time that year on April 18 and moved between Iowa and Chicago several times throughout the season. In eight relief appearances for the Cubs, he went 0–1 with a 6.28 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 14⅓ innings, while posting a 3–4 mark and 3.55 ERA in 16 starts for Iowa.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wicks is a left-handed pitcher who relies on command and pitchability rather than overpowering velocity. His ability to miss bats in the strike zone, eat innings, and limit walks has been his calling card since college. He profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter whose success depends on sequencing and trusting his defense.
Notable Events and Milestones
His most memorable moment came on August 26, 2023, when he struck out nine Pirates in his MLB debut at PNC Park. Becoming the first Kansas State first-round pick in program history and the first former Rockford Rivet to reach the majors are two milestones that bookend his rise from a small-town Arkansas high school to the majors.
Jordan Wicks Career Wins
Jordan Maslin Wicks has combined strong minor-league results with early major-league success. Through the 2024 season, he had compiled a 6–5 MLB record, with his first major-league victory coming in his debut start against Pittsburgh.
MLB Highlights
Wicks opened his MLB career with a win in his debut against the Pirates in 2023 and went on to win four of his first seven big-league starts that season. After an injury-shortened 2024, he continued to log innings for the Cubs in a hybrid starting and relief role in 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
Wicks went 7–0 across 20 starts between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa in 2023, and he posted a 3–4 record with a 3.55 ERA at Iowa in 2025. He also set Kansas State freshman records for strikeouts and innings pitched during the 2019 season.
Jordan Wicks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jordan Maslin Wicks was raised in Conway, Arkansas, where he developed into a standout two-sport athlete. Public details about his immediate family remain limited.
Personal Life
Wicks has spoken openly about his Christian faith, noting that his belief provides a steady foundation through the ups and downs of a baseball career. He has largely kept his personal life private, focusing public attention on his work between the lines.
2025 Season Performance
Jordan Wicks spent much of the 2025 season shuttling between Triple-A Iowa and the Chicago Cubs. With the Cubs, he appeared primarily in relief, posting a 6.28 ERA across 14⅓ innings while continuing to refine his pitch mix and role within the organization.
At Iowa, Wicks returned to a starting role and went 3–4 with a 3.55 ERA over 16 starts, reinforcing his value as a depth option for Chicago. The combination of starting at Iowa and relieving in the majors gave the Cubs flexibility heading into the offseason.
