WATCH: Jordan Wicks has "something to prove" this spring for Cubs

Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - 12 hours ago

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jordan Wicks spoke to the media following his start against the Dodgers talking about how he is viewing the mentality heading into this spring, how he recapped his outing against the Dodgers and more.

"I feel like (last season) they didn’t see who I am, and for me I think it’s crucial to get back to who I am this year," Wicks said."

Watch the interview below:

Video summary/cliff-notes:

(00:00) Wicks emphasized the importance of hitting the ground running in spring training, especially after missing time last year. He feels physically much better coming into this season.

(00:26) Improved conditioning, Pilates, and cleaner eating contributed to his physical improvement. Last year's injuries were partly due to focusing too much on adding strength at the expense of balance.

(00:53) He agrees with Craig Counsell that he has "something to prove" this year, as last season didn't reflect his true abilities. He wants to show who he really is as a pitcher.

(01:21) A key adjustment is returning to his strengths rather than trying to be a high-strikeout pitcher. Last year, he focused too much on swing-and-miss, which led to multiple walks and runs allowed.

(01:50) This season, he's shifting to a ground-ball approach, trusting the Cubs' strong infield defense (Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner) to make plays.

(02:14) Watching Jameson Taillon's 2023 season showed him that velocity isn’t everything—executing pitches and trusting the defense is more important.

(02:42) His focus now is on results rather than chasing high strikeout numbers, recognizing that the key is limiting runs and getting outs.

(03:07) He joked with Swanson about challenging him with a tough grounder early on in practice, appreciating the defensive talent behind him.

(03:35) Wicks is prioritizing developing his secondary pitches, particularly his cutter, curveball, and slider, while maintaining the effectiveness of his fastball-changeup combo.

(04:06) Opponents seemed to be hunting for his changeup in two-strike counts last year, so he is preparing to adjust if teams continue that approach.