Chicago Cubs Pitcher Poised For Breakout Season in 2024
The Chicago Cubs could be in the mix to add a starting pitcher or two this offseason. With Marcus Stroman hitting free agency, the Cubs have a spot to fill.
Of the potential additions in the rotation, youngster Jordan Wicks, who made his debut in 2023, should find himself in a good position to have a starting spot. He debuted in the middle of a playoff push, indicating the confidence the organization has in him.
MLB.com's Jordan Bastian labeled Wicks as one player poised for a breakout season.
"Wicks ended his campaign with a tough outing in Milwaukee (six runs in 1 2/3 innings) that skewed an otherwise strong MLB debut. In his first six starts, he went 4-1 with a 3.00 ERA, showing poise to go with a six-pitch repertoire that includes an elite changeup."
Wicks, 24 years old, is listed as the No. 10 prospect in Chicago's system, according to MLB.com. He has a fastball in the low-mid 90s and throws a changeup, sinker, curveball, cutter, and slider.
According to Statcast, Wicks throws his changeup 29.7% of the time, more than any other in his arsenal.
His fastball got hit a ton last season, allowing hitters to hit for a batting average of .368 against it. His sinker, which he can work off as a fastball in the future if this continues to be an issue, held hitters to a .174 batting average. He allowed a batting average of .171 against his changeup, showing the confidence he has in that pitch.
The reason for pointing this out is while Wicks had an impressive start to his career, he still has some work to do on the mound, as all young arms do. He should continue to get his chance with the Cubs next season as they look to build upon a decent season during 2024.
