Brendon Little Bio
Brendon David Little (born August 11, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed pitcher, Little previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs after being selected by the club in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft.
Standing among the most promising arms to emerge from the Cubs’ developmental system, Little worked his way through the minor leagues before reaching the majors in 2022. His career has since carried him to the Blue Jays, where he has settled into a relief role and contributed to a pennant-winning club.
Early Life and Background
Little graduated from Conestoga High School in 2015, where he developed into a draft-eligible pitching prospect. During his senior year, he was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 36th round of the 2015 MLB draft. Rather than begin a professional career immediately, Little opted to continue his education and athletic development at the collegiate level.
After appearing in only four games as a freshman at the University of North Carolina, Little made the decision to transfer to the State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota. During the summer of 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where his performance was strong enough to earn him a spot on the league’s all-star squad.
Path to Baseball
Little spent his sophomore collegiate season at the State College of Florida in 2017, where he posted a 5–3 record with a 2.53 ERA across 15 starts. Those numbers helped him re-enter the national spotlight as one of the top college left-handers available in that year’s draft.
The Chicago Cubs selected Little in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft, and he signed with the organization shortly thereafter. He was assigned to the Eugene Emeralds to begin his professional career, marking the start of his climb through the minor leagues.
Brendon Little Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Little’s first full professional season came in 2018 with the South Bend Cubs, where he compiled a 5–11 record with a 5.15 ERA in 22 games and 21 starts. The following year, he began 2019 with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on the injured list before being activated and moving between South Bend and Myrtle Beach.
Across six starts with South Bend in 2019, Little registered a 1.91 ERA, and over four starts with the Pelicans he went 2–1 with a 5.95 ERA. Those splits demonstrated the flashes of potential that the Cubs’ player development staff hoped to refine.
Chicago Cubs Era (2022–2023)
Little did not appear in a minor league game in 2020 after the season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he transitioned to a bullpen role and pitched for the Tennessee Smokies and the Iowa Cubs, finishing the year with a 3.24 ERA across 26 appearances and 53 strikeouts.
On August 30, 2022, the Cubs selected Little’s contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. That same day, he made his MLB debut against the Toronto Blue Jays. He was removed from the 40-man roster two days later and returned to Triple-A Iowa. In 2023, Little spent the entire year back at Iowa, making 50 appearances and posting a 4.05 ERA with 73 strikeouts across 73 and one-third innings.
Toronto Blue Jays Era (2024–Present)
On November 6, 2023, Little was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations, and he was subsequently added to the team’s 40-man roster. He was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to begin the 2024 season before rejoining the major league club.
On June 1, 2024, the Blue Jays selected Little’s contract when closer Jordan Romano was placed on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his right elbow. During the 2024 season, Little posted a 1–2 record with a 3.74 ERA while striking out 36 batters across 45 and two-thirds innings, establishing himself as a dependable middle-relief option.
Notable Events and Milestones
On October 27, 2025, Little appeared in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He surrendered the game-winning home run to Freddie Freeman in the bottom of the 18th inning, capping one of the longest games in World Series history and marking a memorable, if difficult, moment in his young career.
Brendon Little Family
Personal Life
Little maintains an active presence on social media and continues to reside in the United States. Public details about his immediate family have not been widely reported beyond confirmation of his American background and his upbringing in the Conestoga area.
2025 Season Performance
Little’s 2025 campaign with the Toronto Blue Jays placed him on one of the most prominent stages in the sport. He worked as a member of the team’s pitching staff throughout the postseason, appearing in high-leverage situations as the Blue Jays advanced deep into October.
His appearance in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers represented the biggest outing of his professional life. While the result was not what Little or Toronto hoped for, his usage in that game underscored the trust the Blue Jays placed in him during their deepest playoff run.
Looking beyond 2025, Little remains under Blue Jays control as part of their 40-man roster and projects to continue in a relief role. His combination of swing-and-miss stuff and experience in pressure situations should keep him in the mix for meaningful innings heading into the next season.