Toronto Blue Jays Sign Former Highly-Touted Cubs Pitcher

Rowan Wick, a once-promising reliever, faced setbacks in his career after injuries and a challenging 8.60 ERA led to his outright release from the Chicago Cubs, where he was once seen as a potential successor to Craig Kimbrel as closer.

Despite the obstacles, the Canadian native has now found a fresh start with the Toronto Blue Jays, signing a minor league contract.

The #BlueJays signed Vancouver 🇨🇦 native RP Rowan Wick to a minor-league deal today. Just made his AAA debut with the Bisons.

Former Cubs reliever owns a 3.82 ERA across 146 MLB innings.
— Mitch Bannon (@MitchBannon) August 3, 2023

This new opportunity offers him a chance to return to his home country and reignite his career.

During his time with the Cubs from 2019 to 2022, Wick showed promise, boasting a solid 3.66 ERA across 137.2 innings.

However, injuries, particularly an oblique issue, impacted his performance, preventing him from fully regaining his previous dominance.

As a result, he was sent to the minor leagues, where he struggled with a high ERA in the top level of play.

The #BlueJays have signed RHP Rowan Wick to a minor league contract.

The 30-year-old Canadian has a career 3.82 ERA in the bigs and has a bit of experience closing games as well. A solid get to round out Buffalo’s bullpen.
— Eric Treuden (@ETreuden) August 2, 2023

Now with the Blue Jays, Wick has the opportunity to provide veteran depth to their bullpen and work towards reclaiming the form that once made him one of the Cubs' best relievers.

With a different perspective and a supportive home crowd, he hopes to overcome his challenges and become a valuable asset for the Toronto team. Photo Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports