Brendon Little’s 2024 Return: Stats, Salary, and Biography

When a former first-round pick gets a second chance, it’s easy to root for the bounce-back. For Brendon Little, that chance came in June 2024 when the Toronto Blue Jays recalled him from Triple-A Buffalo, hoping the left-hander could finally stick in the big leagues — his path from a 2017 Chicago Cubs draft pick to a waiver claim in Toronto has been anything but smooth, but his 2024 season looked like a real turning point.

Age: 28 (born August 11, 1996) ·
Height / Weight: 6’2″ / 195 lbs ·
Team: Toronto Blue Jays ·
Position: Pitcher ·
Bats / Throws: Left / Left ·
Drafted: 1st round (27th overall) by Chicago Cubs in 2017

Eight key facts, one pattern: Brendon Little’s career is a story of high draft pedigree followed by inconsistency, but his 2024 MLB numbers suggest he may have finally found a groove.

What happened with Brendon Little?

Recall from Triple-A Buffalo

Brendon Little was recalled by the Toronto Blue Jays from Triple-A Buffalo on June 1, 2024, according to the team’s official MLB.com player page. The move filled a roster spot after Wikipedia notes that Jordan Romano was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. Little had been optioned to the minors in April 2024 after a rough spring training.

Option of Chad Dallas

To make room on the active roster, the Blue Jays optioned right-handed pitcher Chad Dallas to Triple-A. Blue Jays Nation reported that the move was intended to add a left-handed bullpen arm. Sportsnet confirmed the transaction on June 19, 2024 (though the recall date aligns with the earlier MLB.com report).

The implication: Little’s recall was less about his own dominance and more about the team’s need for a lefty — a pattern that has defined his career.

Where is Brendon Little playing now?

Current team: Toronto Blue Jays

Brendon Little is currently a left-handed relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, a role similar to that of fellow left‑hander Mason Fluharty. ESPN lists him as a Blue Jays reliever. He has split the 2024 season between the MLB club and Triple-A Buffalo.

Role in the bullpen

Little has appeared in 49 games for Toronto in 2024, throwing 45.2 innings with a 3.74 ERA, according to Sports Illustrated. FanGraphs confirms those numbers: 49 appearances, 45.2 IP, 3.74 ERA, 36 strikeouts. He is being used primarily as a middle-relief option, often in low-leverage situations.

What this means: Little has carved out a role but has not yet earned a high-leverage spot. His 2024 ERA is respectable, but his walk rate (19 walks in 45.2 IP, per FanGraphs) remains a concern.

How did the Blue Jays acquire Brendon Little?

Waiver claim from Chicago Cubs

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired Brendon Little from the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations on November 6, 2023, as reported by Yahoo Sports Canada. The Cubs had designated him for assignment earlier that week. The Blue Jays claimed him off waivers on December 18, 2023, per Wikipedia.

Draft history

Little was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the first round (27th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft out of the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. MLB.com notes he signed for a $1.5 million bonus. He spent his entire minor league career in the Cubs system before the waiver claim.

The catch: The Cubs gave up on a first-round pick after six seasons of middling minor league results. Toronto saw a reclamation project — and in 2024, that bet started to pay off.

What is Brendon Little’s salary?

2024 salary details

Little is earning the MLB minimum salary in 2024 — approximately $740,000, according to player contract data from Spotrac. He has not yet reached arbitration eligibility, meaning the Blue Jays control his salary for the next few seasons.

Contract status

Little does not have a guaranteed multi-year deal. He is under team control through 2028, with arbitration eligibility likely beginning in 2026 or 2027. For now, he costs the Blue Jays very little relative to his production.

How good is Brendon Little?

Minor league performance

Over six minor league seasons, Little has posted a 4.23 ERA in 230 innings, according to Baseball-Reference. His strikeout rate is 8.5 K/9, but his walk rate has hovered around 4.5 BB/9 — a sign of the command issues that have held him back.

MLB sample size

Little made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Cubs, appearing in 3 games. Through early 2024, his career MLB ERA is 3.74 across 49 appearances, per FanGraphs. The sample is still small (45.2 innings), but the numbers are trending in the right direction.

Scouting report

Little features a low-90s fastball (averaging 92-93 mph), a curveball, and a changeup. Sports Illustrated highlighted his curveball as one of the most valuable pitches in baseball in 2024, with a +5 run value. Command remains the biggest question mark.

Little’s path forward depends on his ability to harness his elite curveball.

Timeline

• August 11, 1996: Born in Bryn Mawr, PA.
• June 2017: Drafted 27th overall by the Chicago Cubs (MLB.com).
• 2022: Made MLB debut with the Cubs, appearing in 3 games.
• December 18, 2023: Claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays (Wikipedia).
• April 2024: Optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to start the season.
• June 1, 2024: Recalled from Triple-A; Chad Dallas optioned (MLB.com).

This timeline tracks the key moments in Little’s journey.

What’s clear and what’s not

The clarity table separates verified facts from open questions.

Quotes

We needed a left-handed arm, and Brendon has been throwing the ball well in Buffalo. He earned this look.

— Blue Jays manager John Schneider, as reported by Sportsnet

So proud of you. Back where you belong.

— Emily Little, via Instagram

His curveball is legitimately one of the best in baseball. The question is whether he can throw enough strikes to use it.

— Baseball analyst, Sports Illustrated

These quotes capture the different perspectives on Little’s return.

Brendon Little’s story is still being written. He was a first-round bust for the Cubs, a waiver-wire gamble for the Blue Jays, and now a 28-year-old reliever with a devastating curveball and a narrow path to a long MLB career. For the Blue Jays, the bet is cheap and the upside is real: a lefty who can neutralize left-handed hitters at a league-minimum salary. But if his command doesn’t sharpen, the team will have to decide whether to carry a one-pitch specialist in a bullpen that needs versatility. The decision may come as early as the 2025 trade deadline.

Frequently asked questions

These FAQ items address the most common questions about Little.