Will Little to Become First Ex-Can-Am League Umpire in the Majors
June 25, 2013 - Canadian American League (Can-Am) News Release
Former Can-Am League umpire Will Little made history on Monday night when he took the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The 29-year old Little worked at third base to start a four-game series between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians. In the process, he became the first ex-Can-Am League umpire to work a major league game.
The Can-Am League was Little's first professional umpiring stop, when he was hired by Director of Umpires Kevin Winn in 2007. Shortly after working in the Can-Am League, Little moved on to affiliated ball, beginning in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. From there, the Fall Branch, TN resident quickly ascended the minor league ladder. Little worked the Appalachian League (Rookie), South Atlantic League (A), Carolina League (A) and Southern League (AA) before getting called up to the Triple-A International League in 2011. He has also worked for winter leagues in Hawaii, Arizona and the Dominican Republic.
Little, who graduated with honors from the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring in 2007, is now just the second umpire in independent baseball history to reach the major league ranks. The first, Lance Barrett, worked in the All-American Association and made his major league debut on October 1, 2010. Because the All-American Association is now defunct, Little is the only former independent league umpire from an active league to work in Major League Baseball.
On Monday night, Little donned the number 93 on his sleeve, as he joined Ted Barrett's umpiring crew of Mike DiMuro (first base), Scott Barry (home plate) and Barrett (second base). Little, who is filling in for MLB regular Alfonso Marquez, is scheduled to make his major league debut behind the plate in the final game of the Cleveland-Baltimore series on Thursday. From there, he will work a three-game series in Texas between the Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds. Little's assignments after the Reds-Rangers series are expected to vary between Triple-A and the major leagues.
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