Brewers 2021 MLB Draft Prospect Profile: Kansas State LHP Jordan Wicks

The 2021 MLB Draft is going to get underway shortly, so we’re going to begin looking at potential first round Brewers draft picks to help get fans familiar with who might be the next Brewers prospect.

The first round of the 2021 Draft will take place on July 11th, so we’re about a month away as of this article’s publication. Milwaukee will have the 15th overall selection in the first round, and there are several intriguing players the Brewers could select.

One intriguing player the Milwaukee Brewers could select in the first round is Kansas State LHP Jordan Wicks.

You can never have enough left-handed pitching.

After stockpiling left-handers in the 2019 Draft, the Brewers’ three top pitching prospects are all left-handed. They could add another with Kansas State southpaw Jordan Wicks.

Wicks, 21, has had a good year in the Big 12 with the Wildcats, posting a 3.70 ERA with 118 strikeouts and 28 walks in 92.1 IP. He had a rough start in his final time out against TCU, giving up six runs in 5.2 IP, which raised his ERA from 3.32 to 3.70.

In the shortened 2020 season, Wicks made four starts with a 0.35 ERA in 26 innings.

When it comes to his pitch mix, Wicks’ best pitch is his changeup, and it’s regarded by many to be the best changeup in this year’s draft class. MLB Pipeline grades it a 65 on the 20-80 scouting scale, which makes it a “double-plus” pitch. He also has a fastball and slider that grade out as above-average, and his fourth offering, a curveball, is a work in progress. Even if he ditches the curveball, Wicks has three above-average pitches to work with.

His 2.7 BB/9 this year and above-average control coupled with that repertoire makes him a solid bet to stay in the rotation going forward.

Wicks has continued to gain velocity on his fastball over the past few years and he sits in the low to mid-90s now and if the Brewers can get a few more ticks on the radar gun from him, Wicks would have an incredibly high ceiling.

MLB Pipeline currently has him graded as the 15th best prospect in the draft class, which would put him right at where the Brewers are selecting. Pipeline also had the Brewers selecting Wicks in their latest Mock Draft.

Wicks seems like a great fit for the Brewers organization and what they like to do with their pitchers. He seems like someone who would benefit greatly from developing in this organization.

Reviewing the Brew will continue to look at potential Brewers draft picks.