Aaron Small

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Aaron James Small (born November 23, 1971 in Oxnard, California) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is probably best remembered for his short successful stint as a starter for the New York Yankees in 2005.

Small also previously played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Marlins, Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves. Regarded as a career minor leaguer, he has played for a total of more than 20 teams, including his major and minor league stops, during his professional career.

[edit] High School

Jason Giambi, his former Yankee teammate, and Small were teammates during their high school years at South Hills High School on a team called The South Hills Huskies. Also on this team was the late Cory Lidle, who, while with the Yankees in 2006, crashed a small plane into a building in New York City.

Small was a 1st-team all-conference selection in baseball, and lettered in basketball. He graduated in 1989.

[edit] New York Yankees

Late in the 2005 regular season, he appeared to settle down on the Yankees pitching staff due to injuries suffered by other pitchers, and he recorded 10 major league victories without a loss. Small recorded his first major league complete game shutout, which came against the Oakland Athletics on September 3, 2005. His pitch count during the game was just over 110 and he struck out the last batter he faced, Dan Johnson, and Small received the baseball from catcher Jorge Posada as a remembrance.

Small was the first Yankees pitcher to win his first 9 decisions since Tommy John in 1979, and became just the fourth pitcher in history to win at least 10 games without a loss, joining Tom Zachary, Dennis Lamp, and Howie Krist. He finished the 2005 season at 10-0, with a 3.20 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 76 innings. He was re-signed to a 1-year, $1.2 million contract during the offseason.

During the 2006 spring training, Small injured his right hamstring. He missed the start of the season, but returned to the team on April 30, 2006.

On June 17, 2006, Small was designated for assignment by the Yankees and was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus.

[edit] Seattle Mariners

On January 23, 2007, Small signed a minor league contract with the Mariners.

On May 18, 2007 he announced his retirement after being released from the Mariners.^[1]

[edit] Transactions

• Jun 5, 1989 - Drafted by Toronto Blue Jays in 22nd round (580th overall) of 1989 draft
• Jun 8, 1989 - signed
• Apr 26, 1995 - Traded by Blue Jays to Marlins for Ernie Delgado.
• Jan 23, 1996 - Claimed on waivers by Mariners from Marlins.
• Jan 29, 1996 - Claimed on waivers by Athletics from Mariners.
• Jun 26, 1998 - Claimed on waivers by Diamondbacks from Athletics.
• Mar 30, 1999 - Released by Diamondbacks.
• Apr 12, 1999 - Signed as Free Agent by Brewers.
• May 23, 1999 - Released by Brewers.
• May 27, 1999 - Signed as Free Agent by Devil Rays.
• Oct 15, 1999 - Granted Free Agency.
• Nov 23, 1999 - Signed as Free Agent by Rockies.
• Oct 15, 2000 - Granted Free Agency.
• Dec 21, 2000 - Signed as Free Agent by Angels.
• May 4, 2001 - Released by Angels.
• May 10, 2001 - Signed as Free Agent by Braves.
• Oct 15, 2001 - Granted Free Agency.
• Oct 26, 2001 - Signed as Free Agent by Braves.
• Sep 30, 2002 - Released by Braves.
• Jan 13, 2003 - Signed as Free Agent by Cubs.
• Mar 29, 2003 - Released by Cubs.
• Apr 30, 2003 - Signed as Free Agent by Marlins.
• Oct 4, 2004 - Granted Free Agency.
• Jan 28, 2005 - Signed as Free Agent by Yankees.
• Jan 23, 2007 - Signed as Free Agent by Mariners

[edit] External links

• Baseball Reference
• Player Statistics at The Baseball Cube