| Zack Littell | |
|---|---|
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1995-10-05)October 5, 1995 (age 30) Mebane, North Carolina, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 5, 2018, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 34–29 |
| Earned run average | 3.88 |
| Strikeouts | 496 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Zachary Stuart Littell (born October 5, 1995) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theMinnesota Twins,San Francisco Giants,Boston Red Sox,Tampa Bay Rays, andCincinnati Reds. Littell was selected by theSeattle Mariners in the 11th round of the2013 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2018.
Littell attendedEastern Alamance High School inMebane, North Carolina.[1]
TheSeattle Mariners selected Littell in the 11th round of the2013 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He signed with Seattle, forgoing his commitment to playcollege baseball atAppalachian State University.[3] Littell made his professional debut with the Rookie-levelArizona League Mariners. He was 0–6 with a 5.94earned run average (ERA) and a 1.560walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) in33+1⁄3innings in 2013.[4]
He pitched in 2014 for the Advanced Rookie LeaguePulaski Mariners, going 5–5 with a 4.52 ERA in 13 starts.[4] Littell pitched in 2015 for the Single-AClinton LumberKings, compiling a 3–6 record and 3.91 ERA in 21 starts.[4]
He started 2016 with Clinton, and was promoted to theBakersfield 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]
On November 18, 2016, the Mariners traded Littell to theNew York Yankees in exchange for pitcherJames Pazos.[7] Littell started 2017 with theTampa Yankees and was promoted to theTrenton Thunder in late June.
On July 30, 2017, the Yankees traded Littell and pitcherDietrich Enns to theMinnesota Twins in exchange for pitcherJaime García and cash considerations.[8] The Twins then assigned him to theChattanooga 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, the Twins added Littell to their40-man roster to protect him from theRule 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 in20+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 in6+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 afree agent on November 2.[15]
On February 3, 2021, Littell signed a minor league contract with theSan 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) covering62+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 managerGabe Kapler came to thepitcher's mound to remove Littell from a game, after Littell had given up twoearned 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-ASacramento 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 Giantswaived him off the 40-man roster on November 9. When no team chose to pick him up, the Giantsoutrighted him to Sacramento.[26] He elected free agency on November 10.[27]
On January 12, 2023, Littell signed a minor league contract with theTexas Rangers organization.[28] He began the year with the Triple-ARound Rock Express, for whom he made eight appearances and recorded a 2.25 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched. The Rangers never called him up from the minor leagues.[29]
On May 5, 2023, Littell was traded to theBoston 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 wasdesignated for assignment on May 10, five days after being acquired.[32]
On May 12, 2023, Littell was claimed off waivers by theTampa Bay Rays.[33] He pitched for both the Triple–ADurham 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 theDetroit 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.[35]
On May 31, 2025, Littell pitched a complete game against theHouston Astros; Littell gave up 10 hits and three earned runs while throwing 117 pitches.[36] He made 22 starts for Tampa Bay, compiling an 8-8 record and 3.58 ERA with 89 strikeouts across133+1⁄3 innings pitched.[37]
On July 30, 2025, the Rays traded Littell to theCincinnati Reds in exchange forBrian Van Belle and Adam Serwinowski.[38]