Cubs' Jordan Wicks Looks to Make Impact After 'Extremely Frustrating' Season

Left-hander aims to solidify consistent role in majors after limited opportunities in 2025.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Five years after being drafted by the Chicago Cubs, left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks is trying to establish himself as a consistent contributor at the major league level. Wicks, 26, had a limited role in 2025, appearing in only eight games out of the bullpen, and is looking to rebound this season as part of the Cubs' starting pitching depth.

Why it matters

Wicks was the Cubs' top draft pick in 2021 and the organization has high hopes for him, but he struggled to find a consistent role last year. His ability to solidify a spot on the major league roster this season could be crucial for the Cubs' pitching staff.

The details

Wicks described his 2025 season as 'extremely frustrating' due to what he felt was 'a lot of miscommunication' with the organization about his role. He was initially used in relief early in the season, a situation he had never experienced before, before being utilized in both short and long relief outings later in the year. Wicks believes he is a big-league caliber starter and would prefer that opportunity, but is open to pitching out of the bullpen if that's where the Cubs see him fitting in.

  • Wicks was the Cubs' top draft pick in 2021.
  • In 2025, Wicks appeared in only 8 games, all out of the bullpen, and finished with 14 1/3 innings pitched.
  • Wicks begins spring training in 2026 as part of the Cubs' starting pitching depth mix.

The players

Jordan Wicks

A 26-year-old left-handed pitcher who was the Chicago Cubs' top draft pick in 2021 and is trying to solidify a consistent role in the major leagues.

Tommy Hottovy

The pitching coach for the Chicago Cubs who has been 'awesome' in directly conveying to Wicks that the team just wants him to focus on being his best, not worry about a specific role.

Craig Counsell

The manager of the Chicago Cubs who said the team expects Wicks to be a contributor at some point this season, even with the rotation essentially set to start the year.

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What they’re saying

“You want to compete, and you want to compete in a big way, but it's definitely tough to kind of balance what you want for your own career and being a part of the team because at the end of the day, you've got to do what's best for your family while also helping the team win.”

— Jordan Wicks, Cubs Pitcher (Chicago Tribune)

“Anytime you're not where you want to be, there's frustration, and he should want to be a big leaguer every single day. But we also are having a better team every single year and other guys are also trying to get better, and I think sometimes guys get lost in what they're doing versus where everybody else is.”

— Tommy Hottovy, Cubs Pitching Coach (Chicago Tribune)

“It's supposed to be hard to crack the roster and crack a pitching cemented spot, we're supposed to make it hard and if you want to have big goals, it's got to be hard as well. And that's where we're at with Jordan, that's where we're at with Ben (Brown). And so their job is to get themselves into the best possible place, their best versions of themselves. We're confident that makes them contributors when we need it, and that little bit remains to be seen.”

— Craig Counsell, Cubs Manager (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The Cubs will continue to evaluate Wicks' performance throughout spring training as they determine his role for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Wicks is determined to prove he can be a consistent contributor for the Cubs, whether in the starting rotation or the bullpen, after a frustrating 2025 season. His ability to adapt to different roles and perform at a high level will be key to earning more opportunities at the major league level.