Was born in Burlington, N.C...Graduated from Eastern Alliance High School in Haw River, NC where he also was a tight end on the football team. He was committed to attending Appalachian State University before signing after being drafted in 2013...Originally selected by Seattle in the 11th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft...Favorite team growing up was the Braves because they were the closest team to his home. Favorite player was Chipper Jones...He and his wife, Autumn, were married in 2019. The couple welcomed their first child, Wyatt James Littell, on Jan. 20, 2022.
2022
Made 39 appearances for San Francisco, finishing 3-3 with a 5.08 ERA (25 ER/44.1 IP)…began season with six consecutive scoreless outings in as many innings over the month of April… posted better splits against LHB (.220) vs. RHB (.298)…placed on IL two times, missing seven games after landing on the COVID-IL on 4/26...missed more than a month (7/9-8/17) with a strained left oblique…appeared in 15 G between Single-A San Jose and Triple-A Sacramento, going 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA (10 ER/15.1 IP) and 15 strikeouts.
2021
Appeared in a career-high 63 games in his first season with the Giants while also setting career bests in innings (61.2) and strikeouts (63)...Was one of the six Giants relievers with at least 50 appearances and a sub-3.00 ERA...Posted a 3.44 ERA in his first stint with SF (38 games) from April 30-July 27...was recalled from Triple-A on Aug. 7 and went 4-0-2 with a 2.28 ERA (7er, 27.2ip) and 38 strikeouts while limiting hitters to a .175 clip the rest of the regular season...Held opponents scoreless in 47 of 63 outings...Stranded 16-of-23 inherited runners this season (69.6%)...Used his four-seam fastball 57.8% of the time...opponents were 20-for-120 (.167) with 50 strikeouts.
POSTSEASON: Was on his second career postseason roster...In two NLDS appearances, allowed three runs on six hits with a homer and five strikeouts in 2.2 innings.
2020
Appeared in nine games for Minnesota and posted a 9.95 ERA (7er, 6.1ip) in six games...Made the Twins Opening Day roster but made two appearances before landing on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain on August 1 (retro to July 31)...Was activated off the injured list on Aug. 13 and made two appearances before being optioned to the Alternate Training Site on Aug. 19...Recalled the next day (Aug. 20) and made two more appearances before going back on the 10-day injured list, this time with right elbow inflammation...Was activated off the IL on Sept. 6 and optioned to the Alternate Training Site...Was outrighted to the Alternate Training Site on Sept. 16.
2019
Was in Twins spring training, second of career...optioned to Triple-A Rochester March 14 where he began the season....Recalled by Minnesota for first time on May 24...had five different stints with the Twins over the season....Allowed a career-high eight runs on 10 hits in 4.1 innings of relief May 30 at Tampa Bay...aside from this appearance, posted a 0.83 ERA (32.2 IP, 3 ER) in his other 28 major league games combined....Earned first major league win June 18 vs. Boston, pitching 2.0 scoreless innings....Held opponents scoreless in 24 of 27 appearances from June 18-end of season, including a stretch of 10-straight scoreless outings June 18-July 19 (11.0 IP)....Led all Twins relievers in wins, going 6-0 in 29 games...is one of just three Twins to pitch solely out of the bullpen and win at least six games without a loss, joining Joe Nathan (7-0 in 2006; 64 games) and LaTroy Hawkins (6-0 in 2002; 65 games)....Made two relief appearances in ALDS vs. New York-AL...made Postseason debut in Game 1 on Oct. 1 at Yankee Stadium, allowing two runs in 0.0 innings and was dealt the loss...made second appearance in Game 2 on Oct. 2 at Yankee Stadium, pitching 0.1 inning.
2018
Was in Twins spring training, the first of his career...optioned to Double-A Chattanooga March 9...Was Lookouts Opening Day starter April 5 vs. Birmingham, allowing two runs on five hits in 4.1 innings pitched and did not factor into the decision...Made five starts for the Lookouts before being promoted to Triple-A Rochester May 4 (Fernando Romero recalled by Minnesota from Rochester)...Made five starts for the Red Wings May 5-28, going 1-1, 2.57 ERA (28.0 IP, 8 ER) with 10 walks and 30 strikeouts, earning a recall to Minnesota as 26th man for doubleheader with Chicago-AL...Made major league debut, starting game two of a doubleheader vs. Chicago-AL, allowing six runs on six hits in 3.0 innings pitched and was dealt the loss...struck out first batter faced, fanning Yoán Moncada...transferred to Rochester after game...Made four starts for Red Wings before being recalled again July 2 to make one appearance for Twins...transferred back to Rochester next day...Made 10 more starts for the Red Wings, going 5-3, 4.09 ERA (55.0 IP, 25 ER) and was recalled September 2 when rosters expanded...Made six appearances for the Twins in September, one as a starter, two as a Primary Pitcher...Combined to go 6-11, 4.27 ERA (149.2 IP, 71 ER) with 58 walks and 144 strikeouts in 32 games (22 starts) between Minnesota, Rochester and Chattanooga.
2017
Began season with Single-A Tampa (New York-AL) ... Named Midseason All-Star while at Tampa ... Promoted to Double-A Trenton June 14 and went 5-0, 2.05 ERA (44.0 IP, 10 ER) in seven starts ... Acquired by Minnesota along with left-handed pitcher Dietrich Enns on July 30, in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jaime García; assigned to Double-A Chattanooga ... Combined to go 14-1, 1.89 ERA (114.1 IP, 24 ER) in 20 games (18 starts) between both levels in the Yankee organization prior to trade ... Made seven starts for the Lookouts in August, going 5-0, 2.81 ERA (41.2 IP, 13 ER) ... Combined to go 19-1, 2.12 ERA (157.0 IP, 37 ER) with 41 walks and 142 strikeouts in 27 games (25 starts) between Tampa, Trenton and Chattanooga ... MiLB.com Fans' Choice for Best Starting Pitcher while at Chattanooga.
2016
Began season with Single-A Clinton (Seattle)...named Midwest League Pitcher of the Week June 6, going 2-0, 0.00 ERA (14.0 IP) with two walks and 17 strikeouts in two starts...promoted to Double-A Bakersfield July 4...named MiLB.com California League Player of the Month for July after going 4-0, 0.84 ERA (32.0 IP, 3 ER) with 25 strikeouts in five starts...named California League Pitcher of the Week August 15 after pitching 7.0 scoreless innings with four hits allowed and seven strikeouts August 17 vs. San Jose...made one postseason start in a Game 2 win in the first round vs. San Jose and strikeout 11 batters while allowing just one earned run in 7.1 innings pitched...combined to appear in 28 games (27 starts) between Single-A Clinton and Single-A Bakersfield, going 13-6, 2.66 ERA (165.2 IP, 49 ER)...led Mariners minor leaguers in innings pitched and strikeouts and ranked second in ERA and wins...one of six minor league pitchers to record a sub-3.00 ERA with at least 150 strikeouts...traded from Seattle to New York-AL on November 18, 2016, in exchange for left-handed pitcher James Pazos.
2015
Spent season with Single-A Clinton (Seattle)...went 3-6, 3.91 ERA (112.2 IP, 49 ER) in 21 starts for Lumberkings...recorded first career double-digit strikeout game June 6 vs. Bowling Green (6.0 IP, 10 K).
2014
Spent entire season at Rookie Pulaski (Seattle), where he went 5-5, 4.52 ERA (69.2 IP, 35 ER) in 13 starts...led Appalachian League in strikeouts (64), ranked second in innings pitched and led Appalachian League starters in walks-per-9.0 IP (1.55).
2013
Played first professional season with AZL Mariners, going 0-6, 5.94 ERA (33.1 IP, 22 ER) in 10 games (7 starts)