Luke Little

Little is one of the hardest throwers in this year’s draft class, but until this year his wildness was just as notable as his velocity. As a freshman at San Jacinto (Texas) JC, Little walked more than a batter an inning while also striking out 17.6 batters per nine. He missed time with a back injury this spring but showed vastly improved control in brief glimpses before the season shut down. Little pitches at 96-97 mph, has touched 100 mph in games and became a viral internet sensation when a pre-draft workout video showed him touching 105 mph. A massive presence on the mound at 6-foot-8, 250 pounds, Little got in better shape as a sophomore and showed better control and command. He also showed a much better feel for locating his above-average 80-83 mph slider. It has less power than expected and lacks a big spin rate, but it has solid bite and pairs well with his fastball. Little would have benefitted from a full season to show his control improvements are sustainable, but a team looking for a high-octane lefthander could be enticed by his two-pitch package with the hope of more refinement to come. He is committed to South Carolina.