Luke Little
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Luke Little
|image =
|team = Chicago Cubs
|number = 43
|position = Pitcher
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|8|30}}
|birth_place = Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
|bats = Left
|throws = Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = September 6
|debutyear = 2023
|debutteam = Chicago Cubs
|statleague = MLB
|statyear = 2024 season
|stat1label = Win–loss record
|stat1value = 3–1
|stat2label = Earned run average
|stat2value = 2.76
|stat3label = Strikeouts
|stat3value = 40
|teams =
- Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2023}}–present)
}}
Luke Justice Little (born August 30, 2000) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Cubs in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2023.
Amateur career
Little attended East Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, North Carolina and played college baseball at San Jacinto College. He played collegiate summer baseball for the Traverse City Pit Spitters in the Northwoods League.{{Cite web |last=STONE |first=AUGUSTA |date=2020-07-06 |title=North Carolina teen threw the 2nd fastest pitch in history |url=https://www.carolinacoastonline.com/regional/article_10aa68ba-bf7b-11ea-9bb4-57f115028fd4.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Carolina Coast Online |language=en}}
Professional career
The Chicago Cubs drafted Little in the fourth round, with the 117th overall selection, of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web |title=Little Unit? Cubs draft 6-8 kid who can hurl 105 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/luke-little-drafted-by-cubs-in-fourth-round |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=July 23, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} Little made his professional debut in 2021 with the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Cubs. He spent 2022 with the Single–A Myrtle Beach Pelicans and High–A South Bend Cubs.
In 36 appearances in 2023 with South Bend, the Double–A Tennessee Smokies and Triple–A Iowa Cubs, Little accumulated a 5–2 record and 2.12 ERA with 105 strikeouts in {{fraction|63|2|3}} innings pitched. On September 6, 2023, Little was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|title=Cubs' Luke Little: Added to big league roster|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cubs-luke-little-added-to-big-league-roster/amp/|access-date=September 6, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Upon making the majors, the 6'8" Little tied the record with Chris Volstad from the 2012 season for being the tallest starting pitcher in Chicago Cubs history. In the 2023 season he pitched in seven games, allowing no runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings.{{cite magazine |last1=Wakai |first1=Brad |title=Chicago Cubs Pitcher Makes History Just by Stepping on Mound |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/cubs/news/chicago-cubs-pitcher-makes-history-just-by-stepping-on-mound-brad9 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=April 3, 2024 |access-date=6 April 2024}}
Little was named a part of the Cubs' 2024 opening-day bullpen before the season began.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/luke-little-earns-spot-on-cubs-opening-day-roster?bt_ee=yOvReFnMvPPpkcS5G%2F1xpm8To+NoayvEfBj%2FWaBOngUYTf0Ylew06iBNc0MgfILs&bt_ts=1697078162039&partnerId=zh-20231012-1050626-HOU-1-A&qid=22|title=Little locks up first career Opening Day roster spot|work=MLB|date=April 3, 2024}} On April 3, 2024, Little made his first start, throwing one strikeout with no earned runs in one inning a win against the Colorado Rockies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/sports/mlb/chicago-cubs/luke-little-takes-unique-spot-in-cubs-history-with-start/3400966/|title=Luke Little takes unique spot in Cubs history with start|work=NBC Chicago|date=April 3, 2024}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/20240403/chicago-cubs/young-pitchers-shine-in-cold-but-cubs-bullpen-nearly-ruins-sweep-of-rockies/|title=Young pitchers shine in cold, but Cubs bullpen nearly ruins sweep of Rockies|work=Daily Herald|date=April 3, 2024}} In 30 appearances for Chicago, he compiled a 3.46 ERA with 28 strikeouts across 26 innings pitched. Little was placed on the injured list with a left shoulder strain on July 13.{{cite web | title=Cubs' Luke Little: Placed on injured list | website=CBSSports.com | date=2024-07-13 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cubs-luke-little-placed-on-injured-list/ | access-date=2024-12-26}} He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on July 22, with what was described as a "likely" season–ending lat strain.{{Cite web|title=Luke Little Suffers "Likely" Season-Ending Lat Strain|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/07/luke-little-suffers-likely-season-ending-lat-strain.html|access-date=July 23, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=July 22, 2024 |language=en}}
Little was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2025 season.{{Cite web|title=Cubs Option Ethan Roberts, Luke Little as Spring Roster Reduced to 42|url=https://www.cubsinsider.com/2025/03/07/cubs-option-ethan-roberts-luke-little-as-spring-roster-reduced-to-42/|access-date=March 10, 2025|website=cubsinsider.com|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Baseballstats|mlb=681432|espn=4683355|br=l/littllu01|fangraphs=28036|brm=little000luk|retro=L/Plittl001}}
{{Chicago Cubs roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Little, Luke}}
Category:Arizona Complex League Cubs players
Category:Baseball players from Charlotte, North Carolina
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:Myrtle Beach Pelicans players
Category:San Jacinto Central Ravens baseball players