Miami Marlins 2021 MLB Draft Player Profile: LHP Jordan Wicks

It’s MLB Draft time for the Miami Marlins.

The Miami Marlins will be selecting 16th overall in the First Round of the 2021 MLB Draft. We here at Marlin Maniac will be covering all things surrounding the Marlins’ Draft from player profiles leading up to the big event to predictions, breakdowns, rumors, and more both during and after the July 11-13 MLB Draft.

If you would like to read more of our 2021 MLB Draft coverage, you can do that by simply clicking here.

Miami Marlins 2021 MLB Draft Player Profile: LHP Jordan Wicks

The first draft prospect up in our Marlins 2021 MLB Draft Player Profile is Kansas State LHP Jordan Wicks.

Originally from Conway, AK, Wicks attended Conway High School where he owns the career records for wins (30), ERA (1.54), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.6). Also named all-conference four times, as well as a two-time all-state selection, Wicks decided to attend Kansas State after a phenomenal junior and senior season where he combined to post a 19-2 record with a 0.85 ERA and 206 K’s.

Wicks would go on to make an immediate impact during his freshman season with the Wildcats where he made 15 starts going 6-3 with a 3.61 ERA. Being named the 2019 Big 12 Freshman of the Year along with a unanimous selection to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team, Wicks led the Wildcats pitching staff in multiple categories, while also breaking the Kansas State single-season strikeout record for a freshman with 86, a record that had stood since 1973.

Coming off a phenomenal freshman season, Wicks was ranked as the nation’s No. 32 pitcher and No. 9 among sophomores according to D1Baseball.com. Despite the shortened 2020 season, Wicks was outstanding in four starts made posting a 3-0 record with a 0.35 ERA and 0.654 WHIP.

To put things in perspective on just how good Wicks was during these four starts, he began the 2020 season with 24.2 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. Yes, Wicks pitched 26 total innings during his sophomore season, and didn’t allow a single run for the first 24.2.

After a successful 2020 college and summer league season, Wicks entered the 2021 season with a lot of hype being named to multiple Preseason All-America teams, as well as the Preseason Big 12 Pitcher of the Year. Wicks backed up that hype posting a 6-3 record with a 3.70 ERA in 15 starts while striking out a career-high 118 batters. Wicks was also named Third-Team All-America by Collegiate Baseball, as well as First-Team All-Big 12 at seasons end.

With a career 10.2 K/9 at Kansas State, Wicks displays strikeout potential, even though his fastball isn’t necessarily the most overpowering. While the fastball will sit anywhere from 90-94 mph, Wicks’ K potential comes from his wipe-out changeup that is arguably the best in this 2021 MLB Draft class.

While the Marlins already have multiple top pitching prospects in the farm system, including left-handers Braxton Garrett, Dax Fulton, and Jake Eder, Wicks would be a nice addition to that group.

While Wicks might not necessarily be an ace at the big league level, he does project as a good back-end of the rotation starter at minimum. Projected as a First Round pick, and arguably the best LHP in this draft, Wicks might be too good for Miami to pass on if avaliable at pick 16.