Luke Little

Luke Justice Little (born August 30, 2000) is an American professional baseballpitcher 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.

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, soon becoming the first Pit Spitter alumnus to play in the majors.^[1]

The Chicago Cubs drafted Little in the fourth round, with the 117th overall selection, of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.^[2] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[3] 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 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

Little fue nombrado parte del bullpen del día inaugural de los Cubs 2024 antes de que comenzara la temporada. ^{[ 6 ]} El 3 de abril de 2024, Little hizo su primera apertura, lanzando un ponche sin carreras limpias en una entrada en una victoria contra los Colorado Rockies . ^{[ 7 ] [ 8 ]} En 30 apariciones para Chicago, compiló una ERA de 3.46 con 28 ponches en 26 entradas lanzadas. Little fue colocado en la lista de lesionados con una distensión en el hombro izquierdo el 13 de julio. ^{[ 9 ]} Fue transferido a la lista de lesionados de 60 días el 22 de julio, con lo que se describió como una distensión del dorsal "probable" que terminaría con la temporada . ^{[ 10 ]}

Little fue enviado a Triple-A Iowa para comenzar la temporada 2025. ^{[ 11 ]} Hizo dos apariciones para Chicago durante la temporada regular, registrando una ERA de 3.38 con cuatro ponches en 2 + 2 ⁄ 3 entradas lanzadas.

Little fue enviado nuevamente a Triple-A Iowa para comenzar la temporada 2026. ^{[ 12 ]}

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