Rowan Wick Explained

Rowan Wick
Team:Yokohama DeNA BayStars
Number:62
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:9 November 1992
Birth Place:North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Bats:Left
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:August 31
Debutyear:2018
Debutteam:San Diego Padres
Debut2league:NPB
Debut2date:March 30
Debut2year:2024
Debut2team:Yokohama DeNA BayStars
Statyear:2022 season
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:6–10
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:3.82
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:160
Stat4label:Saves
Stat4value:20
Stat2year:August 20, 2024
Stat2league:NPB
Stat21label:Win–loss record
Stat21value:3-1
Stat22value:3.49
Stat23label:Strikeouts
Stat23value:34
Teams:

Rowan David Wick (born November 9, 1992) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs.

Career

Amateur

Wick attended Carson Graham Secondary School in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 19th round of the 2010 MLB draft. He did not sign with the Brewers and attended St. John's University to play college baseball. After one year at St. John's, Wick transferred to Cypress College. He played for the La Crosse Loggers of the summer collegiate Northwoods League during the summer of 2011. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth round of the 2012 MLB draft.[1]

St. Louis Cardinals

Wick signed with the Cardinals and started his professional career as a catcher. He made his professional debut in 2012 with the Gulf Coast Cardinals where he batted .156 in 23 games.[2] He gave up 12 passed balls in 12 games.[2]

He played 2013 with the Johnson City Cardinals. He batted .256 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in 56 games.[2] He split his time on defense between catcher and right field.[2]

In 2014, Wick switched to the outfield, where he played with the State College Spikes and Peoria Chiefs, compiling a .292 batting average with 20 home runs and 60 RBIs in 74 games between the two teams.[3] [4] He played 64 games in right field and seven games in left field.[2]

In 2015, Wick started the season with the Palm Beach Cardinals. He had a slow start with the bat; batting .198 in 33 games, playing right field.[2] He was transitioned into a pitcher and finished the season with the Gulf Coast Cardinals, giving up two runs in two innings.[5] [6]

In 2016, his first full season as a pitcher, he played for both Palm Beach and the Springfield Cardinals, where he posted a 2–0 record and 2.44 ERA with 20 walks and 57 strikeouts in 44.1 innings pitched out of the bullpen.[2] After the season, the Cardinals assigned Wick to the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League where he had a 4.50 ERA,[2] and added him to their 40-man roster.

In 2017, Wick began the season with the Memphis Redbirds, but was placed on the disabled list on May 14 and was not reactivated until July 10. After being reactivated, he reported to Springfield. He returned to Memphis in September. In 16 appearances for Springfield, he posted a 2.08 ERA and in 14 appearances for Memphis he was 2–1 with a 5.40 ERA.[7]

On February 14, 2018, Wick was designated for assignment by the Cardinals after the signing of Bud Norris became official.[8]

San Diego Padres

On February 16, 2018, Wick was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres.[9] On March 28, Wick was outrighted off the 40-man roster.[10] He began the season with the San Antonio Missions. On August 31, 2018, he made his MLB debut.

He was 0–1 with a 6.48 ERA in 10 games for the Padres in 2018.[2]

Chicago Cubs

On November 20, 2018, Wick was traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Jason Vosler.[11] In 2019 for the Cubs, Wick appeared in 31 games, recording a 2–0 record and 2.43 ERA with 16 walks and 35 strikeouts in 33.1 innings pitched.[12]

In the shortened 2020 season, Wick appeared in 19 games for Chicago, pitching to a 3.12 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17.1 innings of work.[13] He went on the injured list in September with a left oblique strain.[14]

On April 26, 2021, Wick was placed on the 60-day injured list with a left oblique intercostal strain.[15] He missed the first four months of the season with the injury.[16] On August 10, Wick was activated off of the injured list.[17] He was 0–1 with a 4.30 ERA in 22 games for the Cubs.[2] Between the High-A South Bend Cubs and the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, he was 1–0 with a 6.14 ERA.[2]

In 2022, Wick made 64 appearances out of the bullpen for Chicago, logging a 4-7 record and 4.22 ERA with 69 strikeouts and 9 saves in 64.0 innings pitched. On November 18, 2022, Wick signed a one-year, $1.55 million contract with the Cubs, avoiding arbitration.[18]

On March 27, 2023, Wick was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Iowa.[19] In 23 games for Iowa, he struggled to an 8.60 ERA with 35 strikeouts in innings pitched.[20] Wick was released by the Cubs organization on July 15.[21]

Toronto Blue Jays

On July 27, 2023, Wick signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.[22] He did not appear in a game for the Braves organization and was released on July 31.[23]

On August 2, 2023, Wick signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.[24] [25] In 20 games for the Triple–A Buffalo Bisons, he posted a 3.86 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 5 saves in 21.0 innings of work. Wick elected free agency following the season on November 6.[26]

Yokohama DeNA BayStars

On December 16, 2023, Wick signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball.[27]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wick drafted by Cardinals. Andy. Prest. 10 June 2012 . November 19, 2016.
  2. Web site: Rowan Wick College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History. Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. Web site: State College Spikes: Wick off to blazing start. November 19, 2016.
  4. Web site: Cards' minor-league roundup: Wick makes most of promotion. Joe . Trezza . 24 July 2014 . November 19, 2016.
  5. Web site: A switch to pitch for Cards prospect Rowan Wick. Derrick. Goold. 26 May 2015 . November 19, 2016.
  6. Web site: Cardinals' Rowan Wick transitions to pitcher. MLB.com. November 19, 2016.
  7. Web site: Rowan Wick Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. MiLB.com. May 14, 2018.
  8. Web site: Cardinals' Rowan Wick: Designated for assignment. 2023-05-29. cbssports.com. en.
  9. Web site: Padres Claim Rowan Wick. Adams. Steve. mlbtraderumors.com. February 16, 2018. February 16, 2018.
  10. Web site: Padres Outright Rowan Wick. Todd. Jeff. mlbtraderumors.com. March 28, 2018. March 28, 2018.
  11. Web site: Cubs add 3 pitchers ahead of roster deadline. MLB.com.
  12. Web site: Chicago Cubs: What made Rowan Wick so good in 2019?. October 15, 2019.
  13. Web site: Cubs Stats to Follow: Rowan Wick Has Been Pitching Backwards. September 5, 2020. Cubs Insider.
  14. Web site: Rowan Wick happy to be back with Cubs after strange injury. Russell. Dorsey. August 11, 2021. Chicago Sun-Times.
  15. Web site: Cubs Select Trevor Megill. MLB Trade Rumors. 26 April 2021 .
  16. Web site: Cubs' Rowan Wick Plans to Be Even Better After Lengthy Injury. Tim. Stebbins. 12 August 2021 .
  17. Web site: Cubs Activate Rowan Wick (Oblique) Off 60-Day Injured List. Tim. Stebbins. 10 August 2021 .
  18. Web site: Players Avoiding Arbitration: 11/18/22. November 18, 2022. MLB Trade Rumors.
  19. Web site: Cubs' Rowan Wick: Outrighted to Triple-A. 2023-03-27. cbssports.com. en.
  20. Web site: Cubs Release Former Closer in Waiting Rowan Wick. July 15, 2023. cubsinsider.com. 15 July 2023 . en.
  21. Web site: Transactions .
  22. Web site: Transactions .
  23. Web site: Transactions .
  24. Web site: Blue Jays' Rowan Wick: Signs MiLB deal with Jays. August 2, 2023. cbssports.com. en.
  25. Web site: The Blue Jays have signed Canadian reliever Rowan Wick to a minor league deal .
  26. Web site: 2023 MiLB Free Agents. December 21, 2023. baseballamerica.com. en.
  27. Web site: DeNAが救援右腕のウイック獲得を発表 MLB通算146試合登板、ブルペン強化へ . Yahoo! Japan . Japanese. DeNA announces acquisition of right-hand reliever Wick, pitches in 146 MLB games, strengthens bullpen.