There was little breakout in the first half of 2025 with an ERA of 2.11 through the end of June. That number doubled the rest of the way to 4.20, culminating in several meltdowns during the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners that put the Blue Jays’ season in jeopardy.
While it may be tempting to cast Little aside given how poorly he finished the year, he could be the kind of swing-and-miss lefty reliever the Blue Jays otherwise lack in their bullpen. They need to see if he can be effective again before moving forward.
Brendon Little makes PCA swing as the bases are squeezed out to hold the three-run lead 👀 📺: @TBSNetwork
Little gets whiffs and groundballs at an elite level; he ranked at the 100th and 97th percentiles in these metrics last year, respectively. He struck out 30.2% of the batters he faced while holding them to an expected batting average of .195. Few relievers in baseball put up numbers like that.
Walks are Little’s kryptonite. His 15.3% walk rate in 2025 was among the worst in baseball and bumped his WHIP to 1.36. His inability to restrict free passes worsened as the season progressed; he walked 17 batters in his last 24 innings pitched. He then walked five more batters in four playoff innings.
This is especially true given the expansion of Little’s second percentile. He releases the ball just six feet in front of the rubber. That pales in comparison to someone like Aroldis Chapman, who releases the ball with an extension of 2.3 meters. The ball must travel further when Little throws it, giving hitters more time to make swing decisions. This could be offset by elite velocity, but Little’s sinking fastball sits at just 90 mph.
That being said, the Blue Jays are trying to win a World Series in 2026. Winning games in April is just as important as winning games in September. They cannot afford to use Little stubbornly if his problems continue in the second half. Still, it could be an investment that gives him a short runway to get back on track.
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