Brendon Little has taken a much bumpier road than most to the MLB draft. As a high school senior, Little changed his mechanics to try to throw harder, but problems arose when he could not throw strikes. He went on to the University to North Carolina as their top recruit in the 2015 class, but again, could not throw strikes to stay on the field. In 2016, he transferred to State College of Florida-Manatee. Junior college allowed Little to get the innings he needed while working on the walks and other small details that will make him better. MLB draft coverage begins on June 12th, and Little hopes to be a first round pick.
Brendon Little MLB Draft 2017 Profile
Strengths
Little has an electric fastball that can reach 96-97 mph when he needs it. During games, it sits in the 92-94 range with some movement, which is great for a left-hander. The best pitch he throws is his curveball. It is more of a power curve, dropping off the table as hitters think the fastball is coming. His third offering is a changeup. While he has not thrown it long, he has made good progress in throwing it for strikes and keeping hitters off balance.
His frame and attitude also serve him well on the mound. At 6’2”, 205 pounds, he has a solid body that can generate power. This means he does not have to rely completely on his arm action. Also, having already gone through struggles at North Carolina, and having learned how to handle them, is a huge positive. Every player at the minor league level has ups and downs. Struggles are a part of the game and the ability to learn from them can make or break many players.
Weaknesses
The biggest weakness for Little is his command. At times, he can’t find the strike zone. He gets into deep counts and cannot stay in games late. The stuff is there, but he struggles to command it or to force batters to swing at pitches outside the zone. He also needs to remain confident no matter what happens on the field. Sometimes he loses confidence on the mound. As long as he remains confident and believes in himself, he will be a first round pick and help a team win games a few years from now.
Player Comparison
He resembles Sean Newcomb, a top prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization.
