Introduction
Zack Littell has emerged as one of the more intriguing right-handed pitchers in Major League Baseball. Over his career, he has evolved from a bullpen arm into a dependable starter who can pile up strikeouts while maintaining control. In this article, we dive deep into four key areas of interest:
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Strikeouts (career totals, trends)
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Strikeouts per game (and deeper rate stats)
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Contract (past deals, current status)
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Strikeouts today (latest game, projections)
This dual focus on both counting stats and per-appearance metrics, coupled with contract and “today’s” performance, helps present a well-rounded profile of Littell as of 2025.
Who Is Zack Littell? — A Brief Background
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Full name: Zachary Stuart Littell
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Born: October 5, 1995 (age 29 in 2025)
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Height / Weight / Throws: 6’4”, 250 lbs, right-handed thrower
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MLB Debut: June 5, 2018, with the Minnesota Twins.
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Over his MLB tenure, Littell has suited up for several teams: Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and currently the Cincinnati Reds (as of mid-2025)
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In 2025, he was traded from the Rays to the Reds in a three-team deal around the trade deadline.
His journey from reliever to starter has been gradual, and his strikeout prowess now plays a central role in his value.
1. Strikeouts (Career Totals, Season Trends)
Career Totals & Milestones
As of the 2025 season, Zack Littell’s career strikeout total sits near 496. Some sources round that to 493 depending on how postseason or minor league innings are counted. His cumulative MLB win-loss record is 34–29, and his career ERA is about 3.88.
From the Baseball Savant / advanced metrics perspective, his seasonal breakdown of innings and strikeouts shows:
| Season | IP | Strikeouts | K/9 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ~90 | 74 | (approx. 7.4) | Established as a starter mid-season |
| 2024 | ~156.1 | 141 | ≈ 8.13 | Led Rays in innings pitched |
| 2025 | ~182 | 127 | ≈ 6.27 | Some drop in strikeout rate |
These trends show that while his strikeout totals have grown with increased usage, his rate (strikeouts per inning) has seen fluctuations.
Yearly Trend Observations
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2023: Coming off bullpen work, Littell’s strikeout rate was solid, as he adjusted to a starting role.
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2024: That was arguably his best season in terms of combining innings with a high strikeout total (141), pushing his K/9 upward.
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2025: Even with more innings (182), his strikeout total is lower; this suggests his K/9 has declined, possibly due to fatigue, adjustments by hitters, or pitch usage changes.
He has shown the ability to produce solid strikeout numbers, but sustaining a high strikeout rate as a workhorse starter remains a challenge.
2. Strikeouts per Game (and Rate Metrics)
Focusing only on raw “strikeouts per game” (i.e. how many batters he strikes out in each appearance) can be misleading for starters, since “game” meaning “appearance” may vary in innings pitched. However, it does provide some intuitive insight when paired with more refined rate metrics (e.g. K/9, K%, etc.).
Strikeouts per Game (Season Averages)
According to StatMuse, Zack Littell has had roughly 4.22 strikeouts per game pitched in a certain recent season. Some data sources adjust that to 4.06 SO/G depending on which appearances are counted.
In his last 5 games, he averaged about 4.2 strikeouts per outing (21 Ks over 5 games)
Over his last 10 games, he struck out 42 batters total (i.e. ~4.2 per game)
Thus, in recent stretches, Littell seems to sustain around 4–5 strikeouts per start on average.
Rate Metrics: K/9, K%, and Related Stats
To better understand his strikeout ability, we look at rate-based metrics:
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K/9 (Strikeouts per 9 innings): A common metric for pitchers. Littell’s K/9 has varied over his career and seasons.
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K% (Strikeout percentage of batters faced): This metric normalizes for how many batters he faces and shows efficiency.
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K/BB (Strikeout to Walk ratio): Measures how dominant he is versus control.
According to his FanGraphs page, Littell’s K/9 and associated metrics are tracked each season. For example, in seasons where his K/9 was above average, his control metrics (walks etc.) often determined his success.
In sum: his raw strikeouts per game provide a baseline (~4–5 Ks/start in recent outings), but the deeper rate stats reveal more about his underlying ability to miss bats.
3. Contract (Past Deals & Current Status)
Understanding his contract status gives insight into his long-term value and team expectations.
Past Contracts & Movements
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Littell was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2013 (11th round) and moved through minor leagues before reaching MLB.
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Early in his MLB career, he mostly pitched in relief roles for Minnesota, then later for San Francisco and Boston.
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In 2023, he signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers (but never got called up) before being claimed by Boston and then the Rays.
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The Rays converted him into a starter and extended his role across 2023–2025.
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On July 30, 2025, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in a three-team deal.
Current Contract Status & Expectations
As of 2025, Littell is under contract with the Reds (via the trade). The exact financial terms have not been widely publicized in all sources. However:
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Because he was traded in midseason, he carries whatever contract he had with the Rays into Cincinnati.
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He is expected to approach or become a free agent after the 2025 season, unless an extension is agreed upon.
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His value to teams will likely hinge on his ability to maintain strikeout numbers, control, and durability.
For any team considering him beyond 2025, his contract outlook will factor in age (still in prime years), injury risk, and the trends in his K/9 and performance against the long ball (he has been susceptible to home runs in recent years).
4. Strikeouts Today (Latest Game & Projections)
To assess “strikeouts today,” we examine his most recent performances and projections for upcoming starts.
Recent / Latest Performance
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In 2025, across his appearances, Littell recorded 127 strikeouts over ~182 innings.
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In a matchup against the Padres, betting markets projected an “Over 3.5 strikeouts” line, with some models indicating ~4.3 strikeouts expected.
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In one of his last 5 appearances, he averaged ~4.2 strikeouts per outing (21 Ks over 5 games)
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In his last 10 games, he struck out 42 batters (~4.2 per game)
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In some recent matchups, he has had modest strikeout totals (e.g. 3 or 4 Ks) depending on how deep he got into the game and how hitters adjusted.
So, on a typical start these days, expecting 3–5 strikeouts is reasonable.
Projection & Factors to Watch
When forecasting his strikeout potential in an upcoming game, consider:
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Opponent lineup and contact tendencies: If opponent hitters swing early or have low strikeout rates, he may not rack up many Ks.
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Pitch mix: Has he been using more contact pitches (fastballs, sinkers) vs. swing-and-miss stuff (cutters, changeups, breaking balls)? A shift toward fewer swing-miss pitches could lower strikeouts.
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Ballpark / conditions: Some parks are more hitter-friendly or flighty, reducing strikeout upside.
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Recent form & workload: Fatigue from heavy innings or long outings might reduce velocity or swing-and-miss effectiveness.
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Home run susceptibility: In 2025, Littell has given up a high number of homers, which suggests when hitters do make contact, it can be damaging.
Given all this, a safe projection is around 4 strikeouts (with a plausible range of 3–6) in a “normal” start.
Putting It All Together: What the Strikeout Data Tells Us
Strengths
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Littell has demonstrated he can accumulate strikeouts when given ample innings. His 2024 season (141 Ks in ~156 innings) is a strong example.
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He has a solid foundation of control (reasonable walk rates) in many seasons, which lets his strikeout numbers more reliably translate to value.
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His strikeouts per game (4–5) in recent outings make him a moderate threat in fantasy or betting strikeout props markets.
Challenges & Risks
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His strikeout rate (K/9) has declined in 2025 relative to 2024, even as his inning workload increased.
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He has shown susceptibility to the long ball, which amplifies damage when hitters do make contact.
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Consistency in strikeouts game-to-game is not guaranteed, especially against disciplined lineups.
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Because he is nearing free agency, teams will closely evaluate whether his K/9 can be maintained before committing long-term.
Outlook
If Zack Littell can re-establish a higher strikeout rate (say, in the 8.0+ K/9 range) while maintaining health, he could command a solid contract and be a valuable mid-rotation starter. However, if the downward trend in strikeout efficiency continues, his value may be more tied to innings and stability than pure swing-and-miss ability.
From a “strikeouts today” perspective, handicappers, fantasy players, or bettors would be wise to lean modestly (e.g. Over 3.5 or 4.5 in some matchups), but not to expect elite strikeout totals every night.
