Blue Jays Reliever Brendon Little Impresses in Triple-A After Demotion

The young lefty has posted four scoreless outings since being optioned to the Buffalo Bisons.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:23pm

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Brendon Little, a left-handed relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, was recently optioned to the team's Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo after struggling in the early part of the 2026 season. Since the demotion, Little has bounced back, posting four scoreless outings with the Bisons and showing signs of regaining his form.

Why it matters

Little was a key part of the Blue Jays' bullpen last season, but his early-season struggles this year led to the team sending him down to the minors. His performance in Buffalo will be crucial in determining whether he can earn his way back to the major league roster and contribute to the Blue Jays' playoff push.

The details

In five appearances with the Blue Jays to start the 2026 season, Little struggled, allowing 10 earned runs on 10 hits, including 3 home runs, in just 11 outs. His demotion to Triple-A came after a disappointing second half of the 2025 season and some tough playoff outings. Since joining the Bisons, Little has been much sharper, tossing 4 scoreless innings while striking out 5 batters. However, he has also walked 3 hitters and thrown 2 wild pitches, showing that he still has work to do to refine his control.

  • Little was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo almost two weeks ago.
  • He has made 4 scoreless outings with the Bisons since the demotion.

The players

Brendon Little

A left-handed relief pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization who was recently optioned to the team's Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo after struggling to start the 2026 season.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Major League Baseball team that employs Brendon Little and has optioned him to their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo.

Buffalo Bisons

The Triple-A minor league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, where Brendon Little has been pitching since being optioned by the major league club.

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What they’re saying

“6-4-3 scoreless inning for Brendon Little”

— Buffalo Bisons, Twitter account

What’s next

With injuries impacting the Blue Jays' bullpen and the team still in contention mode, Little will need to continue his strong performance with the Bisons in order to earn a return to the major league roster. The team is likely to add another reliever at the trade deadline, making the competition for spots in the Toronto bullpen even more fierce.

The takeaway

Brendon Little's early-season struggles led to his demotion to Triple-A, but the young lefty has responded well, posting four scoreless outings with the Buffalo Bisons. While he still has work to do to refine his control, Little's performance in the minors could earn him another shot with the Blue Jays as they look to solidify their bullpen for a playoff push.