Cubs call up Wicks to start, make major-league debut Saturday
PITTSBURGH - The Cubs decided to have left-hander Jordan Wicks make his major-league debut on Saturday night in Pittsburgh after all.
As recently as Friday, the spoken plan was for Javier Assad to start Saturday, then Sunday was undetermined since veteran Drew Smyly is back in the bullpen. But this plan gives Assad another day of rest.
Wicks was the Cubs' first-round draft pick in 2021, No .21 overall, out of Kansas State
"He pitched great, that's why he's getting this opportunity," Cubs manager David Ross said before the game. "Somebody, he's on the radar for a long time. It's an exciting day for us, him, the organization when you see a young man put in the work, have all the hype and get to make his debut today in this kind of pennant race.
"It's just a really, really cool moment for where we're headed and just a really good symbol of these guys coming up and learning to pitch in the big environments."
Wicks, who turns 24 on Sept. 1, began the season in Double A. After 13 starts at Tennessee, he's had seven at Triple A Iowa. Overall this year, he's 7-0 with a 3.55 ERA and strikeout rate of 9.8 per nine innings.
In his most recent start for Iowa, the Arkansas native mixed a fastball, sinker and changeup; while using a slider, curve and cutter less frequently.
"The thing that stands out to me is hopefully it's just another representation of the organizational health moving forward," Ross said. "The draft and the scouts and player development and everything paying off for these moments, to be in a race, need a starter, need help from below and have somebody you have confidence going to."
"I don't think it's going to be living or dying by this one performance, but the fact he's put in the work and we have confidence in his makeup and his skill set to call him up in this environment is super positive."
To open a roster spot, reliever Michael Fulmer was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain.
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