Reds Get Starter Zack Littell From Tampa Bay

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Late Wednesday night the Reds obtained RHP starting pitcher from the Tampa Bay Rays for two minor league pitchers, in exchange for LHP Adam Serwinowski and RHP Brian Van Belle.

Littell, 29, went 8-8 with a 3.58 ERA in 22 starts for Tampa Bay. Tonight in New York, he held the Yankees to two hits over five scoreless innings with four walks and four strikeouts in the Rays' 11-inning, 5-4 loss.

He was the starting pitcher in the Rays 7-2 loss to the Reds on July 15. He pitched six innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits. He struck out two and surrendered home runs to Tyler Stephenson and TJ Friedl.

He is 8-8 this season with a 3.58 ERA. Littell has walked just 21 batters in 1331/3 innings this season but leads the National Leagues in home runs allowed with 26.

"He's a veteran starter, it's funny. Talking to Cashy (Rays manager Kevin Cash) over there, he kind of compared him to Nick Martinez. Which in my book is a pretty big compliment," Terry Francona said. "We talked to Nick last night and we are going to transition him to the bullpen and whatever (spot starts). We felt like with the asking price of some of the bullpen arms, we had a guy that not only could do it but was willing to do it."

"It gives us depth and a little bit of length," Francona said.

In 2024, Littell received from the local chapter of the BBWAA the Paul C. Smith Champion Award as the Rays player "who best exemplifies the spirit of true professionalism on and off the field." 

Last season, he set career highs and was among team leaders in wins (8), innings (156.1), starts (29), and quality starts (10).

Littell has pitched in parts of nine Major League seasons with the Twins (2018-20), Giants (2021-22), Red Sox (2023), and Rays (2024-25). He was originally selected by the Mariners in the 11th round of the 2013 MLB Draft. 

Serwinowski went 1-7 with this with a 4.84 ERA in 18 appearances (17 starts) for A-Dayton.  He was selected by the Reds in the 15th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. 

Van Belle was acquired by the Reds from the Red Sox in June for cash considerations. He pitched to a 3.21 ERA in 81.1 innings over 18 games (14 starts) combined between AAA-Worcester and AAA-Louisville.