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| Aaron Small | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1971-11-23)November 23, 1971 (age 54) Oxnard, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 11, 1994, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 15, 2006, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 25–13 |
| Earned run average | 5.20 |
| Strikeouts | 170 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Aaron James Small (born November 23, 1971) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. Small played inMajor League Baseball for theToronto Blue Jays,Florida Marlins,Oakland Athletics,Arizona Diamondbacks,New York Yankees, andAtlanta Braves from 1994 to 2006.
Small attendedSouth Hills High School inWest Covina, California. Small was a 1st-team all-conference selection inbaseball, and lettered inbasketball.[1] He graduated in 1989.
Small's high school baseball teammates included future major league playersJason Giambi, who he would later play with on the Athletics and Yankees, andCory Lidle, as well asJeremy Giambi. Small also played high school baseball withShawn Wooten, who was on the2002 World Series Angels team.
Small was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 22nd round of the1989 Major League Baseball Draft. He debuted for the Blue Jays in 1994, but was traded to the Florida Marlins in 1995 for minor leaguer Ernie Delgado. Over the next ten years, Small would split most of his time betweenTriple-A and the majors, with major league appearances for theOakland Athletics,Arizona Diamondbacks,Atlanta Braves, and a second stint with the Marlins, before joining the Yankees.
In addition, Small was also a member of theMilwaukee Brewers,Tampa Bay Devil Rays,Colorado Rockies andAnaheim Angels organizations, though he never pitched in the major leagues for those teams.
Small began 2005 in the Yankees minor league system, pitching for the Double-ATrenton Thunder and Triple-AColumbus Clippers. Due to injuries, he was called up to the Yankees to fill in, making his first start on July 20, which he won.
Small recorded 10 major leaguevictories without aloss. Small recorded his first major leaguecomplete gameshutout, which came against theOakland Athletics on September 3, 2005. Hispitch count during the game was just over 110 and hestruck out the last batter he faced,Dan Johnson, and Small received the baseball fromcatcherJorge Posada as a remembrance.
Small was the first Yankees pitcher to win his first 9 decisions sinceTommy John in 1979, and became just the fourth pitcher in history to win at least 10 games without a loss, joiningTom Zachary,Dennis Lamp, andHowie Krist. He finished the 2005 season 10–0 with a 3.20earned run average and 37strikeouts. He was re-signed to a one-year, $1.2 million contract during the off-season.
During 2006spring training, Small injured his righthamstring. He missed the start of the season, but returned to the team on April 30, 2006. On June 17, 2006, Small wasdesignated for assignment by the Yankees and was outrighted to Columbus.
On January 23, 2007, Small signed a minor league contract with theSeattle Mariners. However, on May 18, 2007, he announced his retirement after being released by the Mariners.[2]
On August 2,2008, Small took part in the 62nd AnnualOld-Timers' Day atYankee Stadium.[3] Six weeks prior, Small survived a bout withencephalitis that included a medicallyinduced coma lasting eight days.[4] He was again honored by the New York Yankees at Old Timers' Day on June 26, 2011, and July 1, 2012.
Small, along with his wife Macy, is a devoutChristian.[5] He is active in his church, Fairview Baptist Tabernacle inSweetwater,Tennessee.[6]
