SE: Wicks Headed to Chicago & K-State Baseball History
Jul 14, 2021 | Baseball, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
It was always going to be tough to beat his old summer job.
This time last year, Jordan Wicks was heading to work at a Dairy Queen near his hometown in Conway, Arkansas, a place owned by former K-State pitcher Scott Stroth, who coached Wicks in Little League on a team called, what else, the DQ Crushers.
"There's a lot of people I'm thankful for. [K-State Head] Coach Hughes and [K-State Pitching Coach] Buck [Taylor] were here this weekend, I made sure they knew I'm not in this situation without them," Wicks said. "Scott is one of those guys that will always be one of the biggest people that molded me, not only into the player that I am, but the person."
When Wicks arrived in Manhattan in 2018, he picked out No. 33 in honor of his former coach and the guy who signed his paychecks at Dairy Queen.
Turns out, it won't be the last summer Wicks spends working for one of America's great institutions. His new job with the Chicago Cubs is just a little more high profile.
The Cubs selected Wicks with the 21st overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, making him the highest draft pick in K-State Baseball history.
From Big 12 Freshman of the Year to the program's all-time strikeout king, Wicks spent his time with the Wildcats writing a pretty remarkable prelude to a career in professional baseball.
At the MLB Draft, held in Denver to kick off All-Star Week festivities, Wicks was one of just eight players to attend the event in person, joined by his family, Hughes and Taylor.
"Being out here in Denver, they told me to soak it all in, be who you are and do what you do," Wicks said. "You're going to have no issues whatsoever, just be ready to work your butt off."
When the moment arrived, Wicks was calm and composed as he walked to the stage and put on a Cubs jersey for the first time, with a purple tie peeking out from beneath his new uniform.
The consensus on the MLB Network broadcast was that Wicks has the potential to rise quickly through Chicago's minor league system as a polished three-year starter in the Big 12.
"I think he's the first guy in this class to the big leagues," analyst Harold Reynolds said. "There's something different here, a competitive edge that just oozes out."
The last two pitchers drafted by the Cubs in the first round were assigned to the High-A affiliate in the team's minor league system.
That would put Wicks on track to make his debut with the South Bend Cubs later this season.
Of course, every prospect is different, and Wicks brings more experience than just about any other pitcher on the board. A Collegiate Baseball All-American in 2021 after three impressive seasons with the Wildcats, Wicks was the first Big 12 player to hear his name called on Sunday.
Since K-State Baseball ended their season in the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship, Wicks has been back in Arkansas working out and meeting with different MLB organizations. But the team that drafted him didn't seem to be a likely destination until the night before the Draft.
"That's when the Cubs became a real possibility," he said. "I was super excited when I found out it was the Cubs, an organization with so much history, publicity and a powerful fanbase."
Wicks was linked to a few other teams looking for left-handed pitching but felt confident that if he was still on the board at No. 21, he would be headed to the north side of Chicago.
He's never been to Wrigley Field, but Wicks expects to make his first visit later this week. That will come during a few days of physicals and meetings, before Wicks sits down with members of the organization and learns where he will begin his professional career.
"My phone definitely blew up after it happened. I think I had 150 texts." Wicks said. "One of the coolest things that happened was when I was home, I was giving lessons to a kid who's learning how to pitch for the first time. He asked me after the lesson, 'Can you please go to the Cubs?' It was such a cool moment for me because he looks up to those guys. I used to be that kid."
Wicks leaves Manhattan as one of the most dominant players in K-State Baseball history, a player who arrived just as Hughes was taking the reins at the program.
Despite a frustrating end to the 2021 season, Wicks is confident the Wildcats will be back – as both Big 12 contenders and regular attendees at the MLB Draft.
"The program is in great hands. [K-State Director of Athletics] Gene Taylor did a tremendous job hiring the people that he did," Wicks said. "You talk about the quality of recruit they're bringing in and everything that's going into the program, they couldn't have hired anyone better. That program is already trending up and it's just going to keep trending up."
That's certainly the goal for Wicks this summer, as he looks to trade in Tointon Family Stadium for the ivy and iconic marquee of Wrigley Field.
"I'm going to do whatever the organization requires of me and hopefully get to Chicago as quickly as possible," Wicks said. "I want to help this team make it back to the postseason and that World Series stage."
It was always going to be tough to beat his old summer job.
This time last year, Jordan Wicks was heading to work at a Dairy Queen near his hometown in Conway, Arkansas, a place owned by former K-State pitcher Scott Stroth, who coached Wicks in Little League on a team called, what else, the DQ Crushers.
"There's a lot of people I'm thankful for. [K-State Head] Coach Hughes and [K-State Pitching Coach] Buck [Taylor] were here this weekend, I made sure they knew I'm not in this situation without them," Wicks said. "Scott is one of those guys that will always be one of the biggest people that molded me, not only into the player that I am, but the person."
When Wicks arrived in Manhattan in 2018, he picked out No. 33 in honor of his former coach and the guy who signed his paychecks at Dairy Queen.
Turns out, it won't be the last summer Wicks spends working for one of America's great institutions. His new job with the Chicago Cubs is just a little more high profile.
The Cubs selected Wicks with the 21st overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, making him the highest draft pick in K-State Baseball history.
Go Wicks Go!
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) July 12, 2021
The Chicago @Cubs select @jordan_wicks99 with the 21st overall pick in the 2021 #MLBDraft #KStateBSB x #CubTogether pic.twitter.com/sbF1ca64sm
From Big 12 Freshman of the Year to the program's all-time strikeout king, Wicks spent his time with the Wildcats writing a pretty remarkable prelude to a career in professional baseball.
At the MLB Draft, held in Denver to kick off All-Star Week festivities, Wicks was one of just eight players to attend the event in person, joined by his family, Hughes and Taylor.
"Being out here in Denver, they told me to soak it all in, be who you are and do what you do," Wicks said. "You're going to have no issues whatsoever, just be ready to work your butt off."
When the moment arrived, Wicks was calm and composed as he walked to the stage and put on a Cubs jersey for the first time, with a purple tie peeking out from beneath his new uniform.
The consensus on the MLB Network broadcast was that Wicks has the potential to rise quickly through Chicago's minor league system as a polished three-year starter in the Big 12.
"I think he's the first guy in this class to the big leagues," analyst Harold Reynolds said. "There's something different here, a competitive edge that just oozes out."
Windy City Wicks
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) July 13, 2021
⚾️ @jordan_wicks99#KStateBSB x @Cubs pic.twitter.com/GKEOPLEKWY
The last two pitchers drafted by the Cubs in the first round were assigned to the High-A affiliate in the team's minor league system.
That would put Wicks on track to make his debut with the South Bend Cubs later this season.
Of course, every prospect is different, and Wicks brings more experience than just about any other pitcher on the board. A Collegiate Baseball All-American in 2021 after three impressive seasons with the Wildcats, Wicks was the first Big 12 player to hear his name called on Sunday.
Since K-State Baseball ended their season in the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship, Wicks has been back in Arkansas working out and meeting with different MLB organizations. But the team that drafted him didn't seem to be a likely destination until the night before the Draft.
"That's when the Cubs became a real possibility," he said. "I was super excited when I found out it was the Cubs, an organization with so much history, publicity and a powerful fanbase."
Wicks was linked to a few other teams looking for left-handed pitching but felt confident that if he was still on the board at No. 21, he would be headed to the north side of Chicago.
He's never been to Wrigley Field, but Wicks expects to make his first visit later this week. That will come during a few days of physicals and meetings, before Wicks sits down with members of the organization and learns where he will begin his professional career.
A forever moment for Jordan Wicks #KStateBSB x @Cubs pic.twitter.com/j9MbuyfCSo
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) July 12, 2021
"My phone definitely blew up after it happened. I think I had 150 texts." Wicks said. "One of the coolest things that happened was when I was home, I was giving lessons to a kid who's learning how to pitch for the first time. He asked me after the lesson, 'Can you please go to the Cubs?' It was such a cool moment for me because he looks up to those guys. I used to be that kid."
Wicks leaves Manhattan as one of the most dominant players in K-State Baseball history, a player who arrived just as Hughes was taking the reins at the program.
Despite a frustrating end to the 2021 season, Wicks is confident the Wildcats will be back – as both Big 12 contenders and regular attendees at the MLB Draft.
"The program is in great hands. [K-State Director of Athletics] Gene Taylor did a tremendous job hiring the people that he did," Wicks said. "You talk about the quality of recruit they're bringing in and everything that's going into the program, they couldn't have hired anyone better. That program is already trending up and it's just going to keep trending up."
That's certainly the goal for Wicks this summer, as he looks to trade in Tointon Family Stadium for the ivy and iconic marquee of Wrigley Field.
"I'm going to do whatever the organization requires of me and hopefully get to Chicago as quickly as possible," Wicks said. "I want to help this team make it back to the postseason and that World Series stage."
Players Mentioned
LHP
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