Luke Little

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #15 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Little paired with 2019 Nationals first-rounder Jackson Rutledge to give San Jacinto (Texas) JC one of the best junior college rotations in the country as a freshman. He was limited to five appearances as a sophomore by a back injury and the coronavirus pandemic, but he went viral after he touched 104 mph in a workout video posted on Twitter. The Cubs drafted Little in the fourth round and signed him for $492,700. Little initially struggled with his conditioning and control, but he slimmed down and broke out in 2023. He rocketed from High-A to the majors and made seven scoreless relief appearances for the Cubs.
  
  Scouting Report: Little is a jumbo-sized lefthander at 6-foot-8, 220 pounds. He hides the ball well behind his big body to generate deception and goes after hitters with an aggressive two-pitch mix. His plus-plus fastball is an explosive pitch that sits 96-98 mph, touches 100 and gets on hitters rapidly. He complements his fastball with an above-average, 80-82 mph slider that sweeps across the zone and plays well against both righthies and lefties. His pitches play well off each other and frequently leave hitters caught in between. Little is difficult to hit and racks up strikeouts and ground balls, but his control is below-average. He struggles with walks and hit batters and often has to pitch his way out of trouble.
  
  The Future: Little has a chance to be a lefthanded middle reliever if he keeps his walks under control. He should open 2024 in the Cubs bullpen.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Control: 40

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #121 prospect in 2020 draft
  Little is one of the hardest throwers in this year’s draft class, but until this year his wildness was just as notable as his fastball. As a freshman, Little walked more than a batter an inning (while also striking out 17.6 batters per nine). In brief glimpses this spring (nine total innings), he showed vastly improved control, although his delivery is still herky jerky and effortful. Little pitches at 96-97 mph, but has touched 100 at his best. He only made five appearances before San Jacinto’s season ended because he missed a few weeks with a back injury. He made one start before the injury, then pitched in relief four times upon his return. In those five appearances, Little struck out 17, walked three and allowed three hits in nine innings. A massive presence on the mound (6-foot-8, 250 pounds), Little was in better shape as a sophomore and showed better control and command. In part that came from better body control and in part because he synced up his lower half better in his delivery. He also showed a much better feel for locating his above-average 80-83 mph slider. It has less power than may be expected, but it has solid bite, although its spin rates are not exceptional. Little is a South Carolina signee. He would have benefitted from a full season which would have given him time to show his control improvements are sustainable, but a team looking for a power lefty could be enticed by his two-pitch package with the hope that there is more refinement to come.
• Ranked #237 prospect in 2019 draft
  Little is a 6-foot-8, 225-pound lefthander who has excellent arm strength. He can dial his fastball up to 96 mph and shows the aptitude to spin the ball. His control is poor, walking 36 batters in 35 innings pitched this spring. While he might not know where the ball is going, he still racks up strikeouts, whiffing 69 batters in his 35.1 innings--good for a strikeout rate that was best on the team, which includes likely first round pick Jackson Rutledge. Considering his physicality and arm strength, Little profiles as a lefty out of the bullpen if he can improve his poor mechanics and control. Little is committed to South Carolina.

• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Little is a 6-foot-8, 225-pound lefthander who has excellent arm strength. He can dial his fastball up to 96 mph and shows the aptitude to spin the ball. His control is poor, walking 36 batters in 35 innings pitched this spring. While he might not know where the ball is going, he still racks up strikeouts, whiffing 69 batters in his 35.1 innings--good for a strikeout rate that was best on the team, which includes likely first round pick Jackson Rutledge. Considering his physicality and arm strength, Little profiles as a lefty out of the bullpen if he can improve his poor mechanics and control. Little is committed to South Carolina.