Zack Littell comfortable with bullpen role on Diamondbacks: ‘I just want to help the team win’

For new Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Littell, being asked to commit to a bullpen role was not a hard sell.

Littell, who was signed by the Diamondbacks on Monday after being designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals last week, told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Tuesday that one of his main goals is to help the team reach the postseason and that he will fill whatever role he can to help make that happen.

“I think being a starting pitcher is the best gig in the world and it’s what I want to do … but right now I’m comfortable doing whatever they ask, and I just want to help the team win,” Littell said. “I’ve been to the playoffs every year in the big leagues except for two, and I just want to do that, and if it’s out of the bullpen right now, I’m comfortable doing it.”

Littell made his D-backs debut on Monday in a long-relief role and was lights out on the mound, tossing 4.2 shutout innings with just two hits allowed, two walks and two strikeouts in a 9-0 win.

The nine-year veteran, who is now with his seventh MLB team, has posted an 8-8 record and a 4.77 ERA in 24 games with 14 starts, 72 strikeouts and a 1.32 WHIP. Littell has shown more success this season out of the bullpen, posting a 3.03 ERA with 17 strikeouts.

Littell said when looking for the right fit, he felt like Arizona would be the best place to get his season back on track.

“It’s a spot that was new to me for as far as midseason getting to choose where you’re going. I had a handful of teams call and reach out, all kind of looking for the same role I’m in here, but Arizona felt like a really nice fit,” Littell said. “It felt like they had some stuff they believed could make me better, and I think that’s what every guy is trying to do: continue to get better.”

Littell, who is set to be a free agent after this season, still wants to be a starter in the majors, but his No. 1 goal for the rest of 2026 is to finish strongly, whether as a starter or in the bullpen.

“I don’t think you’ll find a pitcher in the big leagues that doesn’t want to be a starter, and I firmly believe that I’m still a really good major league starter,” Littell said.

“Obviously this year has been an all-over-the-place year … had some rough stretches, had some good stretches, but one thing that happened when I came over here and I got to talk to these guys about what they felt like I could do better was getting back to my strengths, and regardless if that’s in the bullpen or as a starter, they’re not wrong. I want to finish here strongly; I want to win games right now. I want to see where this takes us, and we’ll worry about the offseason after.”

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