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College  | Story | 12/22/2021

The PG Path: Christian Little

Craig Cozart
Photo: Christian Little (Perfect Game)
The PG Path: Max Carlson | Josh Hartle | Alex Mooney | Tommy White

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." -Jackie Robinson



We had the opportunity to catch up with former Perfect Game All-American and current Vanderbilt University pitcher, Christian Little, to ask him about the experiences that have led him to where he is today. We appreciate him taking the time out of his busy schedule and hope we can all learn a few things from his path thus far in baseball and in life.

PG: What was your first experience or memory with the incredible game of baseball?

Little: I don’t really have a first memory so to speak but more of a collection of memories. My father, Chris, played professional baseball for over a decade so the game was always a part of the fabric of my daily life. He was drafted the year I was born, and I remember going to the park and watching him play when I was probably four years old until he retired.

PG: How old were you when you started playing organized baseball?

Little: I started playing local rec ball when I was seven years old and played at the 10u level. So, right from the beginning I was playing up in competition and I started playing 11u travel ball when I turned 10 years old.

PG: Who are a few of the most influential people in your baseball life to this point?

Little: For sure my dad comes to mind first because of his career, always being around the game while he played and all the life skills I learned from him. Baseball is what we did, and it’s always been my life. My mom was just as impactful as my dad since she took the time to be sure we were able to go and see my dad play. She sacrificed a lot and invested in me in so many ways to help me get to where I am today. My younger sister has always been there for me and been very supportive. She’s a junior in high school, a great volleyball player and is in the middle of the recruiting process herself right now. But overall, there are so many family members, former coaches and friends that have help mold me into the person I am today.

PG: What travel ball organization did you play with most of your amateur career?

Little: When I was younger and just getting started on the travel ball side, I played for the St. Louis Prospects. Then when things started to get more serious, and I knew that baseball was the path I wanted to take in life I went down south and started playing with Team Elite.

PG: Reclassing is becoming a common theme in the game today, but it is typically where an athlete stays in high school for an extra year of development. You did the opposite and impressively classed up, graduating early from Christian Brothers College in St. Louis, Mo. where you were the 2020 Gatorade State Player of the Year. When did this plan start to take place, and who were the people involved in helping you navigate the process?

Little: As I progressed through my high school career, I was looking for ways to experience a higher level of competition. One day I had a conversation with Coach Corbin and Coach Brown, and they asked me what I would think about joining Vanderbilt a year early. That was at the beginning of my junior year, and I started looking at what it would take academically to put myself in position to potentially graduate early. I was still undecided at this point, but when COVID hit it gave me the time I needed to be able to essentially do two years of academic work in one semester. It was extremely challenging but my family and the coaching staff at Vandy were there for me the entire time and now I’m a Commodore.

PG: What was the most challenging part of classing up and what advice would you give to prospects that may consider this move in the future?

Little: Honestly, it was handling all the questions, listening to what everyone was saying about the decision and people giving their opinions. I was, of course, interested in the MLB Draft, still went to all the events and wanted to see what would happen from that end. But I constantly had teammates, scouts and other people talking to me about what I was doing. I am fortunate to have a strong support system around me, so I just had to work hard to block everything out and stay focused on my goals and the direction I chose for my life.

PG: When you hear the words Perfect Game Baseball, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Little: Youth...fountain of youth! I just think of young, talented baseball players and competing at the highest level.

PG: How old were you when you played in your first Perfect Game event and where was it?

Little: I believe I was 13 years old, and I participated in the 13u Perfect Game Series down in Fort Myers.

PG: What was your favorite Perfect Game venue and why?

Little: For sure it was playing at JetBlue and getting to experience that environment. I just think that place has a great feel and energy about it and was something I’ll never forget.

PG: What was your favorite Perfect Game event and why?

Little: It had to be playing in the 14u Select Festival and being around the top players in the nation that were in my age group. To see that collection of high-end talent all on one field was good for my perspective, development and motivation going forward.

PG: For many years now, you have been known for your elite physicality, arm strength and refined delivery. Growing up in St. Louis where the weather had to have been challenging, did you have any unique training methods growing up that allowed you to continue your development as a player?

Little: Well, I was always accustomed to performing in colder weather and it’s second nature to me being indoors from a development standpoint. So, I have never really looked at the weather as a factor, you just get your work done and know that come spring you must be ready to compete.

PG: Your father, Chris, pitched professionally for the Houston Astros and the Montreal Expos. Did you get to experience that when you were younger and how did that influence your career to this point?

Little: Baseball has always been engrained in my life, my mother was very supportive of my father’s career, and they have always wanted me to learn from that and take things to the highest level. Obviously, my father played with a lot of great players over his career, and he picked their brains and learned from them along the way. Information travels, so I have been fortunate to learn from all his experiences.

PG: Do you feel Perfect Game had an impact on your development as a player, if so, how?

Little: 100 percent, the biggest thing that Perfect Game can do for a high school player is put them around other athletes that are just as good or better than themselves. That puts them into position to experience “fight or flight” where you’re either going to perform better or you’re going to perform worse. I feel like that is the best thing that PG did for me was to provide a platform for me to be around players better than me at the time.

PG: You were a Perfect Game All-American, what does that mean to you to this day?

Little: It was a great honor and it’s something that all players that play at a competitive level aspire to achieve. All those years leading up and the showcases that you attend you want to wear those letters across your chest that say Perfect Game All-American.

PG: What was your favorite MLB team growing up and why?

Little: The San Francisco Giants, since I wanted to be a catcher when I was younger, and I really like watching Buster Posey. Plus, my father liked Tim Lincecum and my grandpa is a big San Francisco sports fan. He loves the 49ers and the Giants, so I just naturally gravitated to the San Francisco sports teams.

PG: By all accounts you were projected to be a 1st rounder in the MLB Amateur Draft your last year in high school. The draft is far from an exact science but what could you tell us about that process and what advice would you give to players that may be in that same situation in the future?

Little: I would say, don’t aim for the draft. In other words, understand the business side of things and be prepared but don’t make everything you do be consumed by the MLB Draft. Make it about being the best version of yourself and understand everything that’s involved so that you can decide whether it is the right time for you if you do get drafted. Everybody has their own route; I knew I still needed to develop more physically and mentally, and college was the right path for me. Also, don’t compare yourself to others and get caught up in comps with other players. Just pour your energy into the things you can control and keep the scope of your attention small so to speak , then everything else will take care of itself.

PG: What advice would you give younger players when it comes to positioning themselves to be recruited by colleges?

Little: Take care of the intangibles, like your schoolwork, your nutrition and the weight room. Don’t focus on what other players are doing as far as college is concerned, I just feel like everyone needs to focus on bettering themselves. When you start looking left and right to see who’s next to you, that’s when you start running into problems and creating insecurities. It’s also important to realize that not everyone is a D-I baseball player and there’s nothing wrong with that. You will be most happy as a player when you are at a place that has a plan for your development, and you are going to get legitimate time on the field. Everyone has a different route to get to their final stage or destination in their career, so don’t compare your situation to anyone else’s.

PG: You are playing collegiately at Vanderbilt University, why did you choose the Commodores?

Little: The biggest deciding factor was that I felt like Vandy was the best place for me to develop outside of baseball. It’s the place that has challenged me the most mentally and they’ve given me everything I need physically, and I am surrounded by people that are just as driven as I am. At Vandy it’s about team, not about self, and Coach Corbin does things the right way. Those are the main reasons I chose to be a Commodore.

PG: What has been the best part of your time there at Vandy, what is the culture like and how have you grown as an individual?

Little: The culture is strong; I can say that, and culture is built over time with Coach Corbin setting the foundation the right way. It’s really about the players and the standards that they have for each other and how they hold everyone accountable, and that’s what distinguishes Vanderbilt Baseball.

PG: No doubt, you are one of the youngest prospects to ever pitch in Omaha. What was that like and what do you remember most about toeing the rubber in that environment?

Little: Honestly, I just remember competing and not really being aware of the surroundings. I was just locked and tried to go out there and give my best for my team. Things didn’t really go the way I had hoped but after I came out of the game I kind of took in the sights and sounds of the home of the College World Series.

PG: The game is very analytics-driven these days. What are the metrics that you find most interesting and helpful for you individually as a pitcher and how do you apply them to your craft?

Little: We use metrics, but we don’t take it too far. We use metrics to find weaknesses in certain areas and fix them. For example, last year my extension was not where I needed it to be to get fastballs by guys even though I have high spin rate and good vertical break on that pitch. So, it didn’t make sense that batters were fouling off good fastballs instead of it running through them. But what we discovered was that my extension was only 5-foot-9, which is not good for a guy that is 6-foot-4 like myself. So, this offseason we focused on increasing my extension on the fastball and I am getting much better results. But when it’s all said and done, analytics can’t save you. You must be able to go out and have full confidence and conviction in what you’re doing on the field, that’s the separator.

PG: Baseball players in general are notorious for being very routine oriented and at times superstitious. Do you have any traditions, maybe a go-to pregame meal, or do you have any interesting superstitions you would be willing to share?

Little: This kind of funny but Twizzlers are my go-to snack during the game. That started in high school when my mother bought me some Twizzlers before a game, but I forgot to eat them until the middle of the game. In between one of the innings I broke them out and started eating them and ended up pitching the best game of my high school career. So, every game after that I made sure I had some Twizzlers.

PG: We live in a world where social media is prevalent. Do you spend much time on social media? If so, what is your favorite platform and what do you like to post?

Little: I think most kids my age or my generation spend quite a bit of time on social media. I guess I probably use Snapchat the most, but I think that is a form messaging. Other than that, I try not to be on social media too long, especially with the demands on my time. I think it’s important, it has its downfalls, but it also has its benefits and if people utilize it and represent themselves the right way, I think that’s a good thing.

PG: Lastly, now that you have had a vast array of baseball experiences, what do you know now that you wish you knew back when you first started playing at a high level?

Little: A lot, just being at Vandy has taught me so much. The first thing that comes to mind is to keep a consistent routine on a daily basis, even outside of baseball. I feel like consistency in everything makes consistency easy, just like something as simple as making your bed everyday makes a difference. The other thing would be connecting with people, I’ve always been a quiet person but letting my personality come out a little sooner would make those connections happen quicker. That’s ultimately what makes the process most meaningful, is the relationships and bonds you create along the way. Lastly, for the younger players, whatever your dream is make sure you are fully invested in that dream. Down the road that dream could become a reality, but it won’t if you’re not fully invested in the process of making it come true.

. . .

We hope you enjoyed this episode of the PG Path and getting to know Christian Little a little better. Hopefully you were able to gain some valuable insight and perspective from our conversation. Be on the lookout for the next installment of the PG Path coming soon!

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