2021 MLB Draft Profile: Jordan Wicks

Overview

Position: LHP

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 220 pounds

School: Kansas State

Jordan Wicks is a left-handed pitcher from Conway, Arkansas and plays for the Kansas State Wildcats. Wicks is one of the top prospects and maybe even the top left-handed pitching prospect in the 2021 MLB Draft.

During his time at Kansas State, Wicks was an immediate starter and earned a role in their weekend rotation. As a freshman, Wicks made fifteen starts with a 6-3 record, 3.61 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 9.1 K/9.

As a sophomore, Wicks had an incredible season during the COVID-19 shortened season. In four starts, Wicks had a 3-0 record with a 0.35 ERA allowing only one run in 26 innings pitched. He also had a 0.65 WHIP, 1.4 BB/9 and 9.0 K/9.

During the 2021 season, Wicks has made eight starts with a 4-2 record. He also has a 3.72 ERA, 12.3 K/9, 1.28 WHIP and 5.08 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

At 6’3” 220 pounds, Wicks is a physically mature pitcher with a four-pitch mix. His fastball sits 90-93 mph and tops out at 95 with high spin rates. His best secondary pitch is his changeup which might be the best changeup in this draft class, a low 80s pitch that has lots of depth.

With his changeup, Wicks gets a lot of swing-and-miss and is able to force weak contact when he keeps it in the bottom of the zone. Wicks also possess a slider and curveball but they aren’t as advanced as his changeup.

Strengths

• Best changeup in 2021 draft class
• Deep pitch mix
• Locates pitches well
• Repeatable delivery
• Works with little effort
• Pounds the strike zone
• Very competitive on the mound

Weaknesses

• Needs to improve his slider and curveball
• Has struggled this season
• Not a projected frontline starter

Pro Comparison: Reid Detmers

Projection: First round draft pick

Bottom Line

The Miami Marlins have plenty of pitchers in their farm system. Not a lot of impactful left-handers, however. They did recently draft two southpaws in the 2020 MLB Draft (Dax Fulton & Jake Eder). But with a strong finish to the NCAA season, Wicks could prove to be the top talent available to them with the No. 16 overall selection.

From the most recent Prospects Live mock draft:

The Marlins’ brass are hell-bent on kicking open a competitive window in the next couple years and Wicks is the type of arm that stabilizes and balances a future rotation chock-full of high-octane arms...Miami is certainly on the come-up and Wicks represents the combinations of ceiling and floor necessary to turn a team with a volatile outcome into a stable force in the NL East for years.

Jordan Wicks is a very sound pitcher who might not overpower opponents, but he does have a tremendous changeup that he uses as a strikeout pitch. Wicks projects to be a mid-rotation or back-end arm in the majors.