Chicago Cubs May Have a New Top Pitching Prospect in Their System
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The Chicago Cubs can find their hottest pitching prospect so far this season with their Double-A affiliate the Tennessee Smokies, according to MLB.com.
The site released a list of the hottest pitching prospect for each of the league’s teams and the Cubs’ first-round from 2021, Jordan Wicks, made the cut.
The former Kansas State star is already off to a great start this season, per MLB.com:
Wicks has used one of the best changeups in the Minors and the ability to throw four pitches for strikes to allow just five earned runs and 20 baserunners while whiffing 27 in his last 24 Double-A innings. The 2021 first-rounder from Kansas State has an overall 2.55 ERA, .202 opponent average and 44 strikeouts in 35 1/3 frames.
Entering the weekend Wicks had a 4-0 record with a 2.40 ERA in nine starts and 41 1/3 innings.
Wicks split last season between Tennessee and High Class-A South Bend, where he went a combined 4-6 with a 3.80 ERA, striking out 121 and walking 28.
He started his professional career in the summer of 2021, where he arrived at South Bend and had a 5.14 ERA in four starts and a 0-0 record. He threw just seven innings.
Wicks will have some company after the Cubs made their selection in this summer’s MLB Draft, set for July 9-11 in Seattle. Recently The Athletic projected the Cubs would take Maryland shortstop Matt Shaw.
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