Wes Littleton
| IP | 102 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.706 |
| WHIP | 1.235 |
| BB/9 | 3.265 |
| SO/9 | 4.853 |
- Full name Wes Avi Littleton
- Born 09/02/1982 in Hayward, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Cal State Fullerton
- Debut 07/04/2006
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Drafted in the 4th round (106th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2003 (signed for $315,000).
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Littleton might be the surest bet of anyone in Southern California to play in the big leagues. He's a proven college pitcher with a no-nonsense approach. Few can match his knack for pitching. He has excellent command of three pitches, including a fastball that tops out at 92 mph. He gets good movement, which will give him an edge against hitters using wood. His slider and changeup are also solid pitches, but he doesn't have a surefire weapon to get lefthanded hitters out consistently. He also doesn't get a lot of strikeouts because he uses his fastball so much. A seventh-round pick of the Expos out of high school, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Littleton struggled with his command as a freshman. It has been the strength of his game the last two years. He walked 11 in 72 innings this season. Littleton's chances of going in the first round were damaged when he was suspended for six weeks in midseason for an undisclosed off-field incident. He did not pitch well in his return, and was bumped from the Titans' weekend rotation late in the year.
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Littleton moved to the bullpen in 2005, when his velocity was down early. He was at his best in the Arizona Fall League after the season, but took the entire winter off afterward. He entered spring training out of shape and topping out in the mid-80s with his fastball. But once again, Littleton got stronger as the year progressed and he emerged as one of the Rangers' most reliable setup men. He was pitching at 87-92 mph and topping out at 94 by midseason. Littleton dropped his arm slot even lower than a sidearm angle late in 2005, giving him good deception and sink on his fastball. He also uses a changeup that has proven surprisingly effective against lefthanders, and a sweeping Frisbee slider that he can throw to both sides of the plate. Littleton's herky-jerky delivery also makes his pitches tough to pick up, but he doesn't always repeat it, and the possibility exists that major leaguers will adjust to his funky motion and start to hit him. For now, at least, he figures to be a key part of the Texas bullpen in 2007. -
Littleton entered 2004 with great expectations, but by his own admission his season didn't go as planned. He had an up-and-down career at Cal State Fullerton, where his junior year was interrupted by a suspension. He made a strong pro debut, dominating the short-season Northwest League, but a jump to high Class A didn't go as well. California League hitters pounced on Littleton's 88-92 fastball, which he left up in the strike zone too frequently. He kept opening up his front shoulder, losing his arm slot and causing his once-lively heater to flatten out. He made adjustments as the year went on, but he didn't get ahead of enough hitters to put them away with his slurvy, sweeping slider and inconsistent changeup (which can be a plus pitch at times). Littleton's low three-quarters arm angle is a big reason for his success because it helps give his fastball life and his slider its bite. But as with Kameron Loe, it also allows lefthanders a good look at his pitches. They hit .316 against him last year, compared to .224 by righthanders. Littleton showed progress in the Arizona Fall League, hitting 94 mph while pitching in relief. That may be his best long-term role. -
Drafted by the Expos in the seventh round out of high school, Littleton was a potential first-rounder heading into 2003. His junior season was tarnished by a six-week suspension, after allegations that he took a teammate's parking permit. He wasn't as sharp upon his return, but did turn in a strong effort in the College World Series. Littleton's fastball ranks as the best in the organization, for its combination of velocity (89-94 mph) and vicious run and sink. He creates that outstanding life with a quick, whip-like arm action from a low three-quarters slot. He also throws a sweeping slider with late bite and a changeup that could become a plus pitch. He's an aggressive strike-thrower. While his low release point generates electric movement, finding a consistent weapon to against lefthanders will be a challenge. The sooner he hones his changeup, the quicker he'll move. Rangers scout Steve Flores has known Littleton since high school, and the organization has no concerns about his suspension. Texas expects him to move quickly after starting 2004 in high Class A, moving to Double-A in the second half and possibly the majors in September.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Littleton brought his 2003 College World Series experience with him, and it showed as he was one of the league's most polished pitchers. He uses a low three-quarters arm angle that adds movement to his low-90s fastball, which runs down and in on righthanders and makes his hard-biting slider more effective. He has a dominating presence on the mound to go with his advanced feel for pitching. "His stuff is dominant," Rogers said. "If you just isolate his arm, seeing the ball come out of his hand, it's quality." Littleton got to the league a little late because of the college postseason and fell eight innings short of qualifying for the ERA title, which he would have won. Some managers said Littleton stayed in the league a little long given his dominance, but they had few other questions about him aside from his sometimes violent delivery.
