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Zack Littell
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Zachary Stuart Littell (born October 5, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays. Littell was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 11th round of the 2013 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2018.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Littell attended Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane, North Carolina.[1]
Professional career
[edit]Seattle Mariners (2013–2017)
[edit]The Seattle Mariners selected Littell in the 11th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He signed with Seattle, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at Appalachian State University.[3] Littell made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona League Mariners. He was 0–6 with a 5.94 earned run average (ERA) and a 1.560 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) in 33+1⁄3 innings in 2013.[4]
He pitched in 2014 for the Advanced Rookie League Pulaski Mariners, going 5–5 with a 4.52 ERA in 13 starts.[4] Littell pitched in 2015 for the Single-A Clinton LumberKings, compiling a 3–6 record and 3.91 ERA in 21 starts.[4]
He started 2016 with Clinton, and was promoted to the Bakersfield Blaze in July.[5][6] In 28 total games (27 starts) between the two clubs, Littell collected a 13–6 record, 2.66 ERA, and 1.16 WHIP.[4]
New York Yankees (2017)
[edit]On November 18, 2016, the Mariners traded Littell to the New York Yankees in exchange for pitcher James Pazos.[7] Littell started 2017 with the Tampa Yankees and was promoted to the Trenton Thunder in late June.
Minnesota Twins (2017–2020)
[edit]On July 30, 2017, the Yankees traded Littell and pitcher Dietrich Enns to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for pitcher Jaime García and cash considerations.[8] The Twins then assigned him to the Chattanooga Lookouts where he finished the season. In 27 total games (25 starts) between Tampa, Trenton, and Chattanooga, he went 19–1 with a 2.12 ERA and 1.12 WHIP.[9] On November 20, 2017, the Twins added Littell to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[10]
Littell made his MLB debut on June 5, 2018.[11] In eight games in the majors in 2018, Littell went 0–2 with a 6.20 ERA, 25 hits, 14 strikeouts, and 11 walks in 20+1⁄3 innings. In the minors, he was 6–9 with a 3.98 ERA and a 1.357 WHIP.[4]
Littell moved to the bullpen full time in 2019. He went 6–0 in 29 games with a 2.68 ERA, 32 K, and 9 BB in 37 innings, while in the minors in 63 innings, he was 3–3 with a 3.71 ERA and 25 walks. He had a hard-hit rate of 52.5%.[12]
In 2020 in 6+1⁄3 innings he gave up five home runs among 12 hits. He had a 9.95 ERA with a 2.368 WHIP.[13] On September 17, 2020, Littell was outrighted off the 40-man roster.[14] He became a free agent on November 2.[15]
San Francisco Giants (2021–2022)
[edit]On February 3, 2021, Littell signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants, and received an invitation to spring training.[16][17] The Giants promoted him to the major leagues on April 30.[18] In the 2021 regular season, Littell was 4–0 with a 2.92 ERA in 63 games (2 starts) covering 62+2⁄3 innings in which he struck out 63 batters with the Giants; with Triple-A Sacramento, he had a 9.00 ERA.[19] His hard-hit percentage of 46.0% was in the bottom (worst) 5% of major league pitchers.[20]
On September 13, 2022, Giants manager Gabe Kapler came to the pitcher's mound to remove Littell from a game, after Littell had given up two earned runs on three hits and a walk on only 15 pitches.[21] Littell slammed the ball into Kapler's hand and angrily told Kapler he wanted to remain in the game.[22] The next day, the Giants demoted him to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats.[23][24]
In 2022, Littell was 3–3 with a 5.08 ERA and a 1.376 WHIP with the Giants.[25] He was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA with Triple-A Sacramento. The Giants waived him off the 40-man roster on November 9, 2022. When no team chose to pick him up, the Giants outrighted him to Sacramento.[26] He elected free agency on November 10.[27]
Texas Rangers (2023)
[edit]On January 12, 2023, Littell signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers organization.[28] He began the year with the Triple-A Round Rock Express, for whom he made eight appearances and recorded a 2.25 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 12.0 innings pitched. The Rangers never called him up from the minor leagues.[29]
Boston Red Sox (2023)
[edit]On May 5, 2023, Littell was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations.[30] He was selected to Boston's active roster the next day.[31] In two relief appearances for Boston, he surrendered three hits, three walks, and three runs in three innings pitched, for a 9.00 ERA. Littell was designated for assignment on May 10, five days after being acquired.[32]
Tampa Bay Rays (2023–2025)
[edit]On May 12, 2023, Littell was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays.[33] He pitched for both the Triple–A Durham Bulls (with whom he was 0-1 with an 18.00 ERA) and the Rays, which converted him into a starting pitcher. On August 4, he threw a career-high 6 innings, allowing no runs and earning a win against the Detroit Tigers.[34] He ended the season 3-6, with a 4.10 ERA and 74 strikeouts between the two major league teams.
In 2024, Littell made 29 starts for the Rays, posting a 3.63 ERA on the season with an 8-10 record and 141 strikeouts. Littell led the Rays in innings pitched for the season.
On May 31, 2025, Littell pitched a complete game against the Houston Astros; Littell gave up 10 hits and three earned runs while throwing 117 pitches.[35]
Cincinnati Reds (2025–present)
[edit]On July 30, 2025, the Rays traded Littell to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Brian Van Belle and Adam Serwinowski.[36]
References
[edit]- ^ "Pitcher from Mebane joins another big-league team". alamancenews.com. February 1, 2023.
- ^ O'Neill, Conor. "Mariners draft Eastern Alamance pitcher in 11th round". Times-News. Archived from the original on December 7, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ^ "Zack Littell Class of 2013 – Player Profile | Perfect Game USA". Perfect Game.
- ^ a b c d e "Zack Littell Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Littell called up to Cali, shuts down Rangers' affiliate". Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ^ "Minors notebook: Littell lighting things up for the Blaze". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ^ "Mariners make two trades for three players, add three minor leaguers to the 40-man roster and move on from three others". The Seattle Times. November 18, 2016.
- ^ Mazzeo, Mike (July 30, 2017). "Yankees acquire starting pitcher Jaime Garcia from Twins for two prospects". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
- ^ "Zack Littell Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
- ^ "Zack Littell, Stephen Gonsalves, Lewis Thorpe added to Twins' 40-man roster". Star Tribune. November 21, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- ^ Sutton, Bob. "From Mebane to the majors: Littell set for Twins debut". The Times-News. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ Shah, Preet (June 25, 2021). "Why the Twins May Have Given Up on Zack Littell Too Early". Zone Coverage.
- ^ Tulsa Drillers on X
- ^ Steve Adams (September 17, 2020). "Twins Outright Zack Littell". MLB Trade Rumors.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Klopfer, Brady (February 4, 2021). "Giants sign RHP Zack Littell to a MiLB deal". McCovey Chronicles.
- ^ "Giants To Sign Zack Littell". MLB Trade Rumors.
- ^ "Giants Select Zack Littell, Designate Skye Bolt". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- ^ "Zack Littell Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Zack Littell Statcast, Visuals & Advanced Metrics | MLB.com". baseballsavant.com.
- ^ "Giants drama between Gabe Kapler and reliever adds to Dodgers' joy". Dodgers Way. September 13, 2022.
- ^ Shayna Rubin (September 13, 2022). "Exhausted Giants beat Braves; Zack Littell has heated moment with Kapler". Mercury News. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
- ^ Alex Pavlovic (September 13, 2022). "Giants option Littell after heated exchange with Kapler". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
- ^ "Zack Littell sent to Triple-A after heated exchange with Giants' Gabe Kapler". Yahoo. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
- ^ "Zack Littell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ Brady Klopfer (November 9, 2022). "Giants outright players, lose players, add Dom Núñez".
- ^ "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". Baseball America. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ "Rangers' Zack Littell: Signs minor-league deal". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ "Former SF Giants reliever briefly returns to MLB with Red Sox". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ "Red Sox's Zack Littell: Traded to Boston". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ "Red Sox's Zack Littell: Active in big-league bullpen". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Red Sox's Zack Littell: Loses 40-man spot". cbssports.com. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ "Rays' Zack Littell: Claimed by Tampa Bay". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "Wait, Zack Littell is a Starter Now?!". FanGraphs Baseball. August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ Berry, Adam (May 31, 2025). "Rays' red-hot bats back Littell's CG in a day for the record books". MLB.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ "Reds acquire RHP Littell from Rays to bolster rotation". MLB.com. July 30, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac
Zack Littell
View on GrokipediaBackground
Early life
Zack Littell was born on October 5, 1995, in Burlington, North Carolina.[2] He grew up in nearby Mebane, North Carolina, in Alamance County, where he developed an early interest in athletics.[4] Littell attended Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane, graduating in 2013.[2] There, he excelled in multiple sports, including baseball as a right-handed pitcher and utility player, as well as football.[5] In baseball, he was ranked 14th overall among prospects in North Carolina and 500th nationally, earning recognition for his performance in high school and youth tournaments with the Evoshield Canes travel team.[6] Littell had committed to play college baseball at Appalachian State University but opted to turn professional after being selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 11th round of the 2013 MLB Draft.[1]Personal life
Littell was born on October 5, 1995, in Burlington, North Carolina, where he grew up in a rural area with two younger siblings. His family has a strong tradition of taking cruises, which began in 2003 when his great-grandmother organized a reunion voyage for 65 relatives; this has evolved into annual family trips around holidays like New Year's and Thanksgiving, often including his wife's extended family. Littell and his wife, Autumn Herring—a high school girlfriend from nearby Haw River—married in 2019 during the offseason, honeymooning on a cruise to Puerto Rico.[2][7] The couple has two sons: Wyatt James, born on January 20, 2022, and Drew, born in 2024. Despite the demands of his MLB career, Littell prioritizes family, with his wife and sons occasionally traveling to support him at games, such as during a 2025 series in Houston. The family resides in the Tampa Bay area during the season, where Littell appreciates the proximity to outdoor activities.[2][8] Littell's hobbies reflect his North Carolina roots and love for the outdoors, including hunting, fishing, and golfing. He has taken over 40 cruises in his life, favoring destinations like Belize for scuba diving and Jamaica for horseback riding, and expresses interest in a trans-Atlantic cruise after retiring from baseball.[2][7]Professional career
Seattle Mariners (2013–2017)
Zack Littell was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 11th round (327th overall) of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane, North Carolina.[2] He signed with the organization on June 19, 2013, for a $100,000 signing bonus and was assigned to the rookie-level Arizona League Mariners (AZL Mariners).[9][10] In his professional debut season of 2013, Littell appeared in 14 games for the AZL Mariners, posting a 0-6 record with a 5.94 ERA over 33.1 innings pitched, while recording 28 strikeouts.[9] The following year, 2014, he advanced to the rookie-level Appalachian League with the Pulaski Mariners, where he made 13 starts and achieved a 5-5 record with a 4.52 ERA in 69.2 innings, striking out 64 batters and demonstrating improved command.[9] Littell's development continued in 2015 with the Class A Clinton LumberKings of the Midwest League, his first full-season assignment. There, he recorded a 3-6 mark with a 3.91 ERA across 23 starts and 112.2 innings, amassing 84 strikeouts and showing consistency as a starter in his age-19 season.[9] By 2016, he returned to Clinton for the start of the year before earning a midseason promotion to the High-A Bakersfield Blaze in the California League. Splitting time between the two affiliates, Littell excelled with a combined 13-6 record, 2.66 ERA, and 156 strikeouts over 165.2 innings in 27 starts, including two complete games that highlighted his growth into a reliable prospect.[9] Following the 2016 season, on November 18, the Mariners traded Littell to the New York Yankees in exchange for relief pitcher James Pazos, ending his affiliation with the organization after four years.[11]New York Yankees (2017)
Littell joined the New York Yankees organization on November 18, 2016, when the Seattle Mariners traded him to the Yankees in exchange for relief pitcher James Pazos.[12] Entering the 2017 season as a 21-year-old right-handed starting pitcher, he began the year with the High-A Tampa Yankees of the Florida State League, where he excelled in his role. With Tampa from April to late June 2017, Littell posted a 9-1 record and a 1.77 ERA over 13 appearances, including 11 starts, allowing just 65 hits and 4 home runs while walking 15 and striking out 57 in 71.1 innings.[9] His command and ability to induce weak contact helped him limit opponents to a .237 batting average against, contributing to the team's strong early-season performance.[13] Promoted to the Double-A Trenton Thunder of the Eastern League on June 15, Littell continued his dominance, going 5-0 with a 2.05 ERA in 7 starts across 44 innings, issuing only 8 walks while fanning 52 batters and surrendering 37 hits.[9] This stretch highlighted his growth as a prospect, blending a mid-90s fastball with an improved changeup and slider to generate swings and misses.[14] Littell's breakout campaign earned him recognition within the Yankees' farm system, where he was ranked as the organization's 23rd-best prospect by MLB Pipeline and 24th by Baseball America entering the season.[15] Overall, in 16 starts for the Yankees' affiliates, he achieved a combined 14-1 record with a 1.91 ERA, 109 strikeouts, and a 1.07 WHIP, underscoring his potential as a mid-rotation starter.[9] However, his tenure with New York ended abruptly on July 30, 2017, when the Yankees traded him, along with left-hander Dietrich Enns, to the Minnesota Twins for starting pitcher Jaime Garcia to bolster their major league rotation ahead of the trade deadline.[16] Littell did not appear in a major league game for the Yankees during his brief time in the organization.Minnesota Twins (2017–2020)
Littell was acquired by the Minnesota Twins from the New York Yankees on July 30, 2017, along with left-handed pitcher Dietrich Enns, in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jaime García and cash considerations.[17] Following the trade, he reported to the Twins' Double-A affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts, where he posted a 5–4 record with a 3.43 ERA over 81⅔ innings in 16 starts, striking out 73 batters.[18] On November 20, 2017, the Twins added Littell to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[19] In 2018, Littell began the season with the Twins' Triple-A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings, where he went 7–7 with a 4.01 ERA in 125⅓ innings across 25 starts, recording 103 strikeouts.[18] He made his major league debut on June 5, 2018, starting against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field.[1] Over the remainder of the season, Littell appeared in eight major league games for the Twins, including two starts, compiling a 0–2 record with a 6.20 ERA in 20⅓ innings while striking out 14 batters.[1] Littell spent the early part of 2019 with Rochester, where he recorded a 5–8 mark and a 5.24 ERA in 111⅔ innings over 22 appearances (21 starts), fanning 94.[18] He was recalled to the majors multiple times during the season and transitioned to a full-time relief role, making 29 appearances with an undefeated 6–0 record, a 2.68 ERA, and 32 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched.[1] This performance included a 171 ERA+ and contributed to the Twins' bullpen depth during their 101-win campaign.[1] In the postseason, Littell appeared in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees on October 4, 2019, but took the loss after allowing two unearned runs without recording an out.[20] The 2020 season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, saw Littell limited to six relief outings for the Twins, where he posted a 9.95 ERA over 6⅓ innings with three strikeouts.[1] He was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 1 with a left hamstring strain and later outrighted to the alternate training site on September 17 after clearing waivers.[21] Following the season, Littell elected free agency on November 2, 2020.[22]San Francisco Giants (2021–2022)
Littell signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on February 4, 2021, receiving an invitation to spring training.[23] His contract was selected from the Giants' alternate training site on April 30, 2021, marking his addition to the major league roster.[22] Throughout the 2021 season, Littell served primarily as a reliable reliever in the Giants' bullpen, appearing in a league-high 63 games while making two starts.[2] He posted a 4–0 record with a 2.92 ERA over 61.2 innings pitched, recording 63 strikeouts, seven holds, and two saves, contributing to a 1.0 WAR that underscored his value in the team's surprising 107-win campaign.[1] In the postseason, Littell appeared in the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching 2.2 innings across two games but allowing three earned runs for a 10.13 ERA.[1] Entering the 2022 season on a one-year major league contract worth $730,000, Littell continued in a relief role but experienced a decline in performance.[23] He made 39 appearances, all out of the bullpen, finishing 3–3 with a 5.08 ERA in 44.1 innings, including 39 strikeouts, five holds, and one save, while posting a 0.1 WAR.[2] Littell was placed on the 15-day injured list during the season due to a right shoulder strain, limiting his availability.[24] He was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on October 6, 2022, for the Giants' final games.[22]| Year | Team | G | GS | W-L | ERA | IP | SO | SV | HLD | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | SFG | 63 | 2 | 4-0 | 2.92 | 61.2 | 63 | 2 | 7 | 1.0 |
| 2022 | SFG | 39 | 0 | 3-3 | 5.08 | 44.1 | 39 | 1 | 5 | 0.1 |
