The Cubs are promoting left-hander Luke Little to the majors, reports Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register. Little isn’t on the 40-man roster but the Cubs already have a vacancy there. A corresponding move will be required to get him onto the active roster.
It’s a belated birthday present for Little, who turned 23 years old just a week ago. The ironically-named Little, listed at 6’8″ and 220 pounds, was selected by the Cubs in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. He made an 11-inning professional debut in the Complex League in 2021 before getting a larger body of work after that.
He split 2022 between Single-A and High-A, tossing 65 2/3 innings with a 2.47 earned run average. His 13.3% walk rate was on the high side but he paired that with a huge 35.4% strikeout rate. This year, he’s gone from High-A to Double-A to Triple-A with a combined 2.12 ERA in 63 2/3 frames. He’s still giving out walks at a high clip of 15.1% but is punching out 37.6% of batters faced.
Those strong results have gotten the attention of prospect evaluators, with Baseball America currently ranking him #19 in the Cubs’ system, highlighting his fastball velocity. He’ll now get a chance to try his hand at getting major league hitters out and will be making his major league debut as soon as he gets into a game.
The club hasn’t had much of a left-handed presence in its bullpen this year. Brandon Hughes made 17 appearances earlier in the season but has been out of action for a few months dealing with a knee injury. Anthony Kay has an ERA of 6.35 in his 13 contests and is currently on optional assignment. That leaves Drew Smyly, who struggled in the rotation and got bumped to the bullpen, as the club’s only southpaw reliever at the moment.
Bringing Little up to the big leagues will give them another option in that department as they enter the final few weeks of the playoff race. Their 75-64 record puts them 2.5 games back of the Brewers in the Central and in possession of the second National League Wild Card spot.
Sounds like this won’t be a big move…
6’8” and a triple digit fastball and you can bet no opposing hitters will call him “chicken little”
Misleading last name — 6’8” is not Little.
Reminds me of a certain Robin Hood character
Little John!
Little Big Man
This is the dude that throws 104 or whatever? Should be fun.
There you go, Ray!!!
Anyone concerned about Alzolay? I’, not sure he’s even been up and throwing since Friday? Anybody seen anything different?
Needs rest. Ross overused him. They need some less stressful games going forward and he’ll be fine.
Yep. And then after the couple days off they haven’t needed him. Glad he’s getting the rest. Leiter needs it now. He is gassed.
Thank God he hasn’t been throwing up in the bullpen as the late great Jerry Coleman used to say.
Ross did overuse him. But here we are, now I am hoping he backs off on his usage – as he let Suzuki also ‘reset’ for awhile.
Hopefully Little hits the ground running.
Will be interested in the corresponding move. Since they already have 14 pitchers on the active roster—it has to be a pitcher.
Greene doesn’t have options left. Palencia has been pitching too well.
Wesneski? Keegan?
Losing that last 40 man spot hurts a little (no pun intended). Pretty much for the first time since Theo hit the ground here the Cubs have been the three catcher team. I was thinking that spot was open in case of emergency that Gomes or Amaya gets hurt and they have to add Higgins to the 40 man. Now any move like that would need a DFA (Wisdom?)
Still have Boxberger and Hughes on 60 Day which would require a move if they are recalled.
It’s nice to be interesting and relevant into September, isn’t it?
Quite honestly, I wouldn’t be upset at a Wisdom DFA even though he might be worth a low A ball decent prospect. To me, his strikeouts far outweigh his power and streakiness.
Wisdom has regressed too much on both sides of the ball. He may have some value on another team but with Morel on the Cubs, Wisdom becomes redundant (and now Carnario).
I think corners are set with Madrigal and Calendario, giving the Cubs one of best infield defenses in the game. The only exception I would see is playing Bellinger occasionally at first, moving Candy to third for Tauchman in center.
Wisdom still has minor league options left if they only need him off the active roster.
I don’t see any need for Wisdom at all anymore. As I said, early in the season he made sense but he has failed to improve any aspect of his game since his arrival, his defense is awful now, so is his offense. I could actually live with his offense as a back up if he played a plus defense but every time he he’s suck a liability regardless of where you play him.
Well Marquee showed the Hoyer media interview on Friday and Jed said that there would be multiple moves in September. So is this the last one or will he be playing musical chairs during the next few weeks?
harry–I certainly understand that there will be shuttle of guys that can be shuttled…but now they are at the point of losing guys from the 40 especially if it’s guys coming back from the 60 day IL.
I think Wisdom would be in jeopardy—or at this point I guess Brennan Davis has been surpassed by enough outfielders to lose his spot and find another organization.
I’m betting Wesneski
It has to be a P. You can’t have more than 14 on the roster. Wisdom has sucked all year. Years actually. Can’t tell me they just noticed?
Totally understand Uncle and said that up top. It’s just when Hughes and Boxberger come off the 60 day—somebody has to go from the 40 man. Wasn’t talking about the 26/28 man roster in this case.
Example would be: Cubs recall Boxberger, DFA Wisdom, option Wesneski.
There are certainly no pitchers that they would DFA at this time from the 40 man.
I think Boxberger and Hughes will have to be killing it in the next week or two to get called up at this point. And I think Wesneski stays.
Greene DFA so they still have an open 40 man spot.
That was a bit of a surprise he pitched well for the Cubs. I’m just glad the Cubs are doing what I asked and giving young arms innings in high leverage situations as every inning counts at this point. Sorry mike I didn’t see your other post or it didn’t show up when I put mine or the ever popular – Just wasn’t paying attention again.
Anthony Kay and Jared Young would be DFA before Wisdom.
I believe Littke is going to be a dominant relieve. The Cubs made a good move doing this. Little blew through three levels this year and now is going to the show.
Even a LITTLE move is better than no moves at all.
I guess he has Little to prove in the minors at this point.
It’s about time. Cubs have had zero left handed options the entire year. Ross has only used leiter Jr in the late innings against lefties and he’s looked pretty bad of late.
I like this signing a little
This will be the Happ, Happ, (see what I did there?) happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap danced with Anthony Bleeping Kay!
Good to see Big Z last night. Next up Sosa’s return and Bartman to throw out the first pitch for the first game of the WS.
Lol. Bartman would never come back for that, but if he did, I would totally want Moises Alou to be behind the plate to catch the ball like he should’ve 20 years ago.
Looks like there will be an interesting competition next year for the Closer gig between Palencia, Alzolay, Little, Merryweather and if Burdi can find a Witch Doctor to cure his injury curse he might show up there also. Looking forward to it. I thought Palencia was rushed but he’s showing some grit. Cubs pitching staff is shaping up moving forward. Just lose Stroman, Hendricks and move forward. To all the Hendricks apologists, Sorry. He never got a lead he couldn’t give right back. No need for FA pitching here. I’d rather save the 37 million they’d cost and give it to Bellinger. I’m sure the Yankees, Mets, Cardinals or Dodgers would take Stroman for 1 year at 21 million if he opts in.
Ross and Wicks after the game
“The thing that’s stood out to me most since he’s gotten here is, good pitchers pound the strike zone with their stuff when you get a lead,” Ross said. “And he knows how to pitch with a lead. He’s going to be on the attack. He’s not worried about a baserunner.”
Wicks is only worried about one thing.
“I couldn’t care less what my stats are,” Wicks said. “My whole goal when I take the mound is, when I come out of the game, I want us to be in the best position possible to win the game. And so that’s my whole entire mantra.
Kid gets it.