Blue Jays' Brendon Little struggles continue in Triple-A

The relief pitcher is working to regain his form after a disastrous start to the MLB season.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:21am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's delivery broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conveying the challenges the player faces in finding his rhythm and command.A fractured, geometric depiction of a pitcher's delivery highlights the struggles Brendon Little faces in regaining his form at the minor league level.Buffalo Today

Brendon Little, a relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, has been demoted to the team's Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo after struggling mightily in the majors to start the season. Little's MLB ERA ballooned to 24.55, leading to the demotion. In his first outing back in the minors, Little showed signs of still working to find his rhythm, relying heavily on breaking pitches that were inconsistent and often bouncing before reaching the catcher.

Why it matters

Little was expected to be a key part of the Blue Jays' bullpen this season after a promising 2025 campaign. His early struggles have been a setback for the team, and his inability to find his form in Triple-A raises questions about when he may be ready to return to the majors and contribute again.

The details

In his first outing with the Buffalo Bisons, Little's warmup pitches consisted mostly of breaking balls as he tried to regain his feel for his secondary pitches. During the game, he continued to struggle with his command, getting ahead of hitters with his fastball but then failing to put them away with his breaking balls, which often bounced before reaching the catcher. This lack of an effective breaking pitch has been a major factor in Little's struggles at the MLB level, leading to control issues and hittable fastballs.

  • On April 15, 2026, Brendon Little was demoted from the Toronto Blue Jays to their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo.
  • On April 17, 2026, Little made his first appearance for the Buffalo Bisons.

The players

Brendon Little

A relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays who was demoted to Triple-A after struggling with a 24.55 ERA to start the 2026 MLB season.

Toronto Blue Jays

The MLB team that Brendon Little plays for, who sent him down to their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo after his poor start to the season.

Buffalo Bisons

The Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, where Brendon Little has been sent to work on regaining his form.

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What’s next

Little will continue to work on his command and secondary pitches with the Buffalo Bisons, with the hope of regaining his form and earning a return to the Blue Jays' major league roster.

The takeaway

Brendon Little's early-season struggles have been a setback for the Blue Jays, and his inability to find his rhythm in Triple-A raises concerns about when he may be ready to contribute at the MLB level again. The team will need Little to rediscover his effective breaking ball in order to complement his fastball and regain his status as a reliable bullpen option.