MESA, Ariz. — After an injury-riddled 2024, Jordan Wicks was determined to arrive at the Cubs complex more prepared.

“I felt like it was really important to get here and kind of hit the ground running, especially with as much time as I missed last year,” Wicks said on Friday. “But I also felt just so much better physically, I feel like coming in this year.”

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Wicks entered last season with plenty of hype — he was in the team’s Opening Day rotation and looked to build upon a solid rookie debut in 2023. But it never materialized that way. Injuries and struggles limited him to just 11 games (10 starts) with a 5.48 ERA in 46 innings.

“I think anytime you kind of battle a number of injuries — and frankly, he didn’t pitch great as well — I think it really kind of refocuses you on everything and it challenges you,” manager Craig Counsell said.

[Cubs spring training notebook: Non-roster invitee pitcher shines in Cactus League debut]

Part of Wicks’ struggles stem from trying to be something he wasn’t. In the offseason between 2023 and 2024, the lefty focused on strength. Then, in season, Wicks was chasing stuff, wanting to strike out the world. Instead, it led to more free passes and predictability.

In pitchers’ counts, hitters knew what to expect — it was clear he would turn to his best pitch, his changeup, and they pounced.

“I felt like, with two strikes, they were kind of out hunting with it,” Wicks said. “And so, if that’s an approach that teams are going to take, we’ll obviously adjust from there.”

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That’s what could lead to the best version of Wicks.

“I think there’s a picture of Jordan to me where the changeup is just kind of an equalizer for him,” Counsell said. “And — this is more of a feel thing — it didn’t feel like that at times last year. That’s the pitch that makes him responsible for the fastball.

“The guys with good changeups, hitters have to be in between. So both pitches work because of that, right? And that’s kind of what Jordan has to do.”

This offseason, Wicks tried to return to who he was and what led to him becoming a 1st-round in 2021. Instead of trying to bulk up, he focused on conditioning and did Pilates.

Both he and the Cubs are hoping that leads to a solid 2025 campaign. He’ll be stretched out as a starter and, while making the Opening Day rotation seems difficult right now given the roster construction, things can change in a hurry.

“I definitely think I have something to prove this spring and this year as a whole,” Wicks said. “I felt like last year wasn’t anything close to the production I’ve put in for my whole career before that.

“And I feel like that was the first year people really saw me. And I feel like they didn’t see who I am. And for me, I think it’s crucial to get back to who I am this year.”