Brendon Little

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #17 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: After pitching just four innings as a freshman at North Carolina, Little transferred to the State JC of Florida after wowing evaluators in the Cape Cod League. His draft stock shot up as a result, and the Cubs gave him $2.2 million to turn professional. He struggled at short-season Eugene after being drafted, then spent all of 2018 at low Class A South Bend proving surprisingly hittable for a pitcher with excellent stuff.
  
  Scouting Report: Little's biggest appeal still comes from his fastball, which sits in the low 90s and can touch up to 95 when he needs a strikeout. He couples it with a future plus curveball in the mid-70s with 12-to-6 break as well as a changeup that is fringe-average now but could get to average because of the conviction with which it's thrown. The biggest issue now is getting Little to repeat his delivery, which so far has cost him enough control to serve up four walks per nine innings.
  
  The Future: After a full year at South Bend, Little should move up to high Class A Myrtle Beach in 2019. He has the ceiling of a back-end starter.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #7 prospect in 2018
  A top 200 prospect out of a Pennsylvania high school, Little attended North Carolina as a freshman but decided to transfer after getting just four innings. He pitched very well in the Cape Cod League in 2016 and then pitched his way into the first round at State JC of Florida in the spring of 2017. He was the Cubs' first pick and struggled a bit after signing for $2.2 million. A lefthander with two plus pitches, Little lacks precise command but can be effectively wild in the mold of Gio Gonzalez or Francisco Liriano. His fastball has above-average life even at high velocity, and he touched 96 mph in the spring. He pitches more at 90-94 mph, though he sat at the lower end of that register in his pro debut. His tight 12-6 curveball has firm upper-70s power and has flashed plus as a pro. His average changeup gives him a true third pitch and grants him some pitchability. His inconsistent delivery costs him command and can get choppy and robotic. When Little's delivery stays athletic, he's a three-pitch lefty with plus stuff who projects as a mid-rotation starter. He's younger than fellow first-rounder Alex Lange but also less polished and should earn a spot at low Class A South Bend in 2018.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #36 prospect in 2017 draft
  Little was the No. 159 prospect in the 2015 BA 500 out of a Pennsylvania high school due to his flashes of arm strength and promise with his offspeed stuff. However, his lack of command and tough signability lead him to enroll at North Carolina. He pitched just four innings as a freshman, then chose to transfer to a junior college. Little pitched in the Cape Cod League following his freshman year, and he showed a mid-90s fastball and tight curveball. Little has taken impressive strides with his control with the workload he's gotten in junior college. He's been consistently around the strike zone, even if lacking pinpoint command. He has a tendency to finish upright and isn't always able to time his delivery. As a result, Little's strikethrowing can come and go and he'll sometimes struggle to get on top of his curveball. Still, Little's fastball reaches 96 and rests comfortably at 90-93 with above-average life. His curveball shows tight top-to-bottom break in the upper 70s and could be a true plus pitch if he's able to continue improving his consistency. The lefty receives positive reviews for his work ethic and desire to improve. He's expected to come off the board on the first day of the draft.
• Ranked #159 prospect in 2015 draft
  Drawing comparisons to Virginia southpaw Nathan Kirby, Little is a solid athlete with potential for three average or better pitches. His velocity took a while to come back this spring, but he was consistently 89-92 on the summer showcase circuit and has hit 93 again this spring, though he pitches more at 88-91. His second pitch is his tumbling changeup, which he's shown good feel for at times, and the pitch misses bats against righthanded hitters. Little has shown the ability to tightly spin a breaking ball this spring. His command was well below average to start the spring, but he came on strong towards the end, and some scouts project him to have three average or better pitches. Little is committed to North Carolina, and could be a tough sign. He receives excellent marks for his makeup, and coaches believe he will eventually get the most out of his tools.

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  The Cubs popped Little with their first-round selection last year, but his velocity has backed up as a pro and his fastball has been sitting in the 89-91 mph range. Besides rebuilding his fastball, the Cubs also are working with Little to polish his curveball into an out pitch and helping him refine his changeup. He’s got a way to go and is currently 3-7, 5.05 in the Midwest League.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: A top 200 prospect out of a Pennsylvania high school, Little attended North Carolina as a freshman but decided to transfer after getting just four innings. He pitched very well in the Cape Cod League in 2016 and then pitched his way into the first round at State JC of Florida in the spring of 2017. He was the Cubs' first pick and struggled a bit after signing for $2.2 million. Scouting Report: A lefthander with two plus pitches, Little lacks precise command but can be effectively wild in the mold of Gio Gonzalez. His fastball has above-average life even at high velocity, and he touched 96 mph in the spring. He pitches more at 90-94 mph, though he sat at the lower end of that register in his pro debut. His tight 12-6 curveball has firm upper-70s power and has flashed plus as a pro. His average changeup gives him a true third pitch and grants him some pitchability. His inconsistent delivery costs him command. The Future: When Little's delivery stays athletic, he's a three-pitch lefty with plus stuff who projects as a mid-rotation starter. He's younger than fellow first-rounder Alex Lange but also less polished and should earn a spot at low Class A South Bend in 2018.