Zack Littell
Zack Littell is an American professional baseball pitcher who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams, primarily as a reliever early in his career before transitioning to a starting role.[1] Born on October 5, 1995, in Burlington, North Carolina, Littell attended Eastern Alamance High School and was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 11th round (327th overall) of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft.[1] He signed with the Mariners and began his professional career in the minor leagues, progressing through their system and later those of other organizations via trades and waivers.[2] Littell made his MLB debut on June 5, 2018, with the Minnesota Twins, where he spent his first three seasons (2018–2020), appearing in 43 games with a 4.52 ERA.[1] He signed with the San Francisco Giants prior to the 2021 season, posting a standout year in relief with a 4–0 record, 2.92 ERA, and 63 appearances, earning praise for his command and versatility.[1] In 2023, Littell split time between the Boston Red Sox (briefly) and the Tampa Bay Rays after being claimed off waivers, then remained with the Rays through 2024 and into 2025, where he logged 29 starts and 156.1 innings in 2024 with an 8–10 record and 3.63 ERA.[1] Later in the 2025 season, he joined the Cincinnati Reds, contributing a 10–8 record overall that year with a 3.81 ERA in 186.2 innings across both teams.[3] Through the 2025 season, Littell's MLB career totals include 34 wins, 29 losses, a 4.03 ERA, 602.2 innings pitched, and 496 strikeouts in 234 games, highlighting his durability and ability to eat innings despite transitioning between roles and organizations.[1] Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and throwing right-handed, he is known for his sinker-slider mix and strike-throwing consistency, though his home run susceptibility has been a noted challenge in recent years.[2]Background
Early life
Zack Littell was born on October 5, 1995, in Burlington, North Carolina.[2] He grew up in nearby Mebane, North Carolina, in Alamance County, where he developed an early interest in athletics.[4] Littell attended Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane, graduating in 2013.[2] There, he excelled in multiple sports, including baseball as a right-handed pitcher and utility player, as well as football.[5] In baseball, he was ranked 14th overall among prospects in North Carolina and 500th nationally, earning recognition for his performance in high school and youth tournaments with the Evoshield Canes travel team.[6] Littell had committed to play college baseball at Appalachian State University but opted to turn professional after being selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 11th round of the 2013 MLB Draft.[1]Personal life
Littell was born on October 5, 1995, in Burlington, North Carolina, where he grew up in a rural area with two younger siblings. His family has a strong tradition of taking cruises, which began in 2003 when his great-grandmother organized a reunion voyage for 65 relatives; this has evolved into annual family trips around holidays like New Year's and Thanksgiving, often including his wife's extended family. Littell and his wife, Autumn Herring—a high school girlfriend from nearby Haw River—married in 2019 during the offseason, honeymooning on a cruise to Puerto Rico.[2][7] The couple has two sons: Wyatt James, born on January 20, 2022, and Drew, born in 2024. Despite the demands of his MLB career, Littell prioritizes family, with his wife and sons occasionally traveling to support him at games, such as during a 2025 series in Houston. The family resides in the Tampa Bay area during the season, where Littell appreciates the proximity to outdoor activities.[2][8] Littell's hobbies reflect his North Carolina roots and love for the outdoors, including hunting, fishing, and golfing. He has taken over 40 cruises in his life, favoring destinations like Belize for scuba diving and Jamaica for horseback riding, and expresses interest in a trans-Atlantic cruise after retiring from baseball.[2][7]Professional career
Seattle Mariners (2013–2017)
Zack Littell was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 11th round (327th overall) of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane, North Carolina.[2] He signed with the organization on June 19, 2013, for a $100,000 signing bonus and was assigned to the rookie-level Arizona League Mariners (AZL Mariners).[9][10] In his professional debut season of 2013, Littell appeared in 14 games for the AZL Mariners, posting a 0-6 record with a 5.94 ERA over 33.1 innings pitched, while recording 28 strikeouts.[9] The following year, 2014, he advanced to the rookie-level Appalachian League with the Pulaski Mariners, where he made 13 starts and achieved a 5-5 record with a 4.52 ERA in 69.2 innings, striking out 64 batters and demonstrating improved command.[9] Littell's development continued in 2015 with the Class A Clinton LumberKings of the Midwest League, his first full-season assignment. There, he recorded a 3-6 mark with a 3.91 ERA across 23 starts and 112.2 innings, amassing 84 strikeouts and showing consistency as a starter in his age-19 season.[9] By 2016, he returned to Clinton for the start of the year before earning a midseason promotion to the High-A Bakersfield Blaze in the California League. Splitting time between the two affiliates, Littell excelled with a combined 13-6 record, 2.66 ERA, and 156 strikeouts over 165.2 innings in 27 starts, including two complete games that highlighted his growth into a reliable prospect.[9] Following the 2016 season, on November 18, the Mariners traded Littell to the New York Yankees in exchange for relief pitcher James Pazos, ending his affiliation with the organization after four years.[11]New York Yankees (2017)
Littell joined the New York Yankees organization on November 18, 2016, when the Seattle Mariners traded him to the Yankees in exchange for relief pitcher James Pazos.[12] Entering the 2017 season as a 21-year-old right-handed starting pitcher, he began the year with the High-A Tampa Yankees of the Florida State League, where he excelled in his role. With Tampa from April to late June 2017, Littell posted a 9-1 record and a 1.77 ERA over 13 appearances, including 11 starts, allowing just 65 hits and 4 home runs while walking 15 and striking out 57 in 71.1 innings.[9] His command and ability to induce weak contact helped him limit opponents to a .237 batting average against, contributing to the team's strong early-season performance.[13] Promoted to the Double-A Trenton Thunder of the Eastern League on June 15, Littell continued his dominance, going 5-0 with a 2.05 ERA in 7 starts across 44 innings, issuing only 8 walks while fanning 52 batters and surrendering 37 hits.[9] This stretch highlighted his growth as a prospect, blending a mid-90s fastball with an improved changeup and slider to generate swings and misses.[14] Littell's breakout campaign earned him recognition within the Yankees' farm system, where he was ranked as the organization's 23rd-best prospect by MLB Pipeline and 24th by Baseball America entering the season.[15] Overall, in 16 starts for the Yankees' affiliates, he achieved a combined 14-1 record with a 1.91 ERA, 109 strikeouts, and a 1.07 WHIP, underscoring his potential as a mid-rotation starter.[9] However, his tenure with New York ended abruptly on July 30, 2017, when the Yankees traded him, along with left-hander Dietrich Enns, to the Minnesota Twins for starting pitcher Jaime Garcia to bolster their major league rotation ahead of the trade deadline.[16] Littell did not appear in a major league game for the Yankees during his brief time in the organization.Minnesota Twins (2017–2020)
Littell was acquired by the Minnesota Twins from the New York Yankees on July 30, 2017, along with left-handed pitcher Dietrich Enns, in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jaime García and cash considerations.[17] Following the trade, he reported to the Twins' Double-A affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts, where he posted a 5–4 record with a 3.43 ERA over 81⅔ innings in 16 starts, striking out 73 batters.[18] On November 20, 2017, the Twins added Littell to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[19] In 2018, Littell began the season with the Twins' Triple-A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings, where he went 7–7 with a 4.01 ERA in 125⅓ innings across 25 starts, recording 103 strikeouts.[18] He made his major league debut on June 5, 2018, starting against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field.[1] Over the remainder of the season, Littell appeared in eight major league games for the Twins, including two starts, compiling a 0–2 record with a 6.20 ERA in 20⅓ innings while striking out 14 batters.[1] Littell spent the early part of 2019 with Rochester, where he recorded a 5–8 mark and a 5.24 ERA in 111⅔ innings over 22 appearances (21 starts), fanning 94.[18] He was recalled to the majors multiple times during the season and transitioned to a full-time relief role, making 29 appearances with an undefeated 6–0 record, a 2.68 ERA, and 32 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched.[1] This performance included a 171 ERA+ and contributed to the Twins' bullpen depth during their 101-win campaign.[1] In the postseason, Littell appeared in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees on October 4, 2019, but took the loss after allowing two unearned runs without recording an out.[20] The 2020 season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, saw Littell limited to six relief outings for the Twins, where he posted a 9.95 ERA over 6⅓ innings with three strikeouts.[1] He was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 1 with a left hamstring strain and later outrighted to the alternate training site on September 17 after clearing waivers.[21] Following the season, Littell elected free agency on November 2, 2020.[22]San Francisco Giants (2021–2022)
Littell signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on February 4, 2021, receiving an invitation to spring training.[23] His contract was selected from the Giants' alternate training site on April 30, 2021, marking his addition to the major league roster.[22] Throughout the 2021 season, Littell served primarily as a reliable reliever in the Giants' bullpen, appearing in a league-high 63 games while making two starts.[2] He posted a 4–0 record with a 2.92 ERA over 61.2 innings pitched, recording 63 strikeouts, seven holds, and two saves, contributing to a 1.0 WAR that underscored his value in the team's surprising 107-win campaign.[1] In the postseason, Littell appeared in the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching 2.2 innings across two games but allowing three earned runs for a 10.13 ERA.[1] Entering the 2022 season on a one-year major league contract worth $730,000, Littell continued in a relief role but experienced a decline in performance.[23] He made 39 appearances, all out of the bullpen, finishing 3–3 with a 5.08 ERA in 44.1 innings, including 39 strikeouts, five holds, and one save, while posting a 0.1 WAR.[2] Littell was placed on the 15-day injured list during the season due to a right shoulder strain, limiting his availability.[24] He was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on October 6, 2022, for the Giants' final games.[22]| Year | Team | G | GS | W-L | ERA | IP | SO | SV | HLD | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | SFG | 63 | 2 | 4-0 | 2.92 | 61.2 | 63 | 2 | 7 | 1.0 |
| 2022 | SFG | 39 | 0 | 3-3 | 5.08 | 44.1 | 39 | 1 | 5 | 0.1 |