Brendon Little Has a Golden Opportunity to Shine in Toronto
When it was announced this past weekend that Cubs pitchers Adrian Sampson and Justin Steele would not join the team in Toronto because of Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine requirements, two roster spots were open for the taking.
Enter left-handed relief pitcher Brendon Little.
The 26-year-old Little, who was taken in the 2017 MLB draft by the Cubs in the first round, could make his major league debut this week during the remaining two games in Toronto.
Added as a temporary roster replacement, this opportunity not only offers the Pennsylvania native a chance to show he can be effective at the Major League level, but also for Chicago to see what he can provide in a bullpen role.
With a fastball that sits in the low 90s, a curveball in the high 70s, and a changeup, the left-hander saw his first bout of success in the Cubs organization during 2019 with High-A South Bend, making six starts for a 1.91 ERA in 28 1/3 IP.
Little began to attract serious attention from the organization in 2021 after transitioning to the bullpen, pitching in 26 games over 41 2/3 innings for Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa with a 3.24 ERA and dominant strikeout numbers.
His 12.76 K/9 with Iowa to finish 2021 is still a career best at any level.
After being sidelined at the beginning of 2022 while recovering from a left elbow stress reaction, a slow start to his season was dismissed by a dominant July and August in Triple-A.
Posting an electric 1.06 ERA across both months, the dominant stretch also included surrendering just two earned runs across 17 innings in 13 appearances.
In his work during the month of August, his 0.93 ERA in eight appearances was good for the 11th-best ERA out of all Triple-A pitchers in the International League (minimum nine innings pitched.)
Though you won’t find him on the Cubs' top 30 prospect list, the lefty still has a chance to provide help out of the Chicago bullpen as they look to bounce back tonight and tomorrow against the Blue Jays.
While it’s expected that he will be optioned back to Iowa later this week, with September call-ups and 2023 looming, Little could prove to be the dominant left-handed relief arm the Cubs have been looking for.
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