Ethan Robert Small (born February 14, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Ethan Small | |
---|---|
Free agent | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Jackson, Tennessee, U.S. | February 14, 1997|
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
MLB debut | |
May 30, 2022, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
MLB statistics (through 2023 season) | |
Win–loss record | 0–0 |
Earned run average | 8.71 |
Strikeouts | 13 |
Teams | |
Amateur career
editSmall attended Lexington High School in Lexington, Tennessee.[1] He was not drafted out of high school in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, thus enrolling at Mississippi State University.
As a freshman at Mississippi State in 2016, Small pitched only ten innings. After the season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2] After his freshman campaign, he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed all of 2017.[3][4] He returned as a redshirt sophomore in 2018, starting 18 games, going 5–4 with a 3.20 earned run average (ERA).[5] In 2019, Small went 10–2 with a 1.93 ERA in 18 starts, striking out 176 batters in 107 innings,[6] and was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year.[7][8] He won the 2019 National Pitcher of the Year Award.[9]
Professional career
editMilwaukee Brewers
editThe Milwaukee Brewers selected Small in the first round, with the 28th overall selection, of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. He signed for $1.8 million.[10][11][12] He made his professional debut with the Arizona League Brewers, and, after two games, was promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.[13] Over seven starts between the two teams, he went 0–2 with a 0.86 ERA, striking out 36 over 21 innings.[14] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the season.[15]
Small began the 2021 season with the Biloxi Shuckers and was promoted to the Nashville Sounds during the season.[16] That June, he was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.[17] Over 18 starts in 2021, Small went 4–2 with a 1.98 ERA and 92 strikeouts over 77+1⁄3 innings.[18]
Small was assigned to Triple-A Nashville to begin the 2022 season. On May 30, 2022, Small was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time to make a spot start against the Chicago Cubs.[19]
Small was optioned to Triple-A Nashville to begin the 2023 season.[20] He made two major league appearances for Milwaukee on the year, struggling to an 11.25 ERA with 6 strikeouts across 4.0 innings of work. On February 1, 2024, Small was designated for assignment by the Brewers.[21]
San Francisco Giants
editOn February 5, 2024, the Brewers traded Small to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations.[22] He was placed on the 60–day injured list to begin the season after suffering a moderate right oblique strain.[23] Small was activated from the injured list on August 16 and was subsequently optioned to the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats.[24] On November 22, the Giants non–tendered Small, making him a free agent.[25]
Pitching style
editSmall features a lively low- to mid-90 mph fastball—scouts often described it as a "rising" fastball—a curveball and changeup.[26] He has been known to vary his windup timing on his pitches, to give him an advantage over hitters, similar to pitchers such as Marcus Stroman and Johnny Cueto.[27]
References
edit- ^ Odom, Michael (April 26, 2015). "Small isn't affected by Major League scouts at his games". The Jackson Sun. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ "Ethan Small – Profile". Pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ Sammon, Will (April 6, 2016). "Thriving after Tommy John, Ethan Small gives Mississippi State hope now and in future". The Clarion Ledger. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Lowery, Logan (February 12, 2018). "Healthy arms bolster Bulldogs' pitching staff". Daily Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Lowery, Logan (February 15, 2019). "Bulldogs open new stadium, Lemonis era today". Daily Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Mehring, Chris (July 30, 2019). "Ethan Small, Milwaukee Brewers #1 Pick in 2019, to Make Timber Rattlers Debut on Friday Night". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Portnoy, Ben (May 21, 2019). "Ethan Small named SEC pitcher of the Year". The Dispatch. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ^ Horka, Tyler (May 6, 2019). "How Mississippi State's Ethan Small earned SEC Pitcher of the Week". The Clarion Ledger. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Lowery, Logan (June 12, 2019). "Small selected National Pitcher of the Year". Daily Journal. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
- ^ Wagner, Andrew (June 4, 2019). "Patience pays off: Brewers pick left-hander Ethan Small in first-round after lengthy scouting process". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on November 23, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Portnoy, Ben (June 4, 2019). "Brewers take Small in first round of MLB draft". The Commercial Dispatch. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Haudricourt, Tom (June 3, 2019). "The Brewers see their top pick, Mississippi State left-hander Ethan Small, as 'the consummate pitcher'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Jacobson, Jordan (July 31, 2019). "Milwaukee Brewers top draft pick Ethan Small excited for Timber Rattlers debut Friday". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
- ^ Carroll, Matt (June 22, 2021). "Brewers Minors: No. 4 Prospect Ethan Small Promoted to Triple-A". Reviewing the Brew. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
- ^ Wagner, James (June 30, 2020). "Minor League Baseball Season Is Canceled for the First Time". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
- ^ McCalvy, Adam (June 23, 2021). "No. 4 prospect Small pitches way to Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ "Roster – SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "After a positive experience in winter ball, Brewers pitching prospect Ethan Small is on the doorstep of the major leagues". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
- ^ "Brewers' Ethan Small: Contract officially selected". cbssports.com. RotoWire. May 30, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ "Brewers' Ethan Small: Sent to Triple-A camp". cbssports.com. RotoWire. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ Franco, Anthony (February 1, 2024). "Brewers Designate Ethan Small For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Franco, Anthony (February 5, 2024). "Giants Acquire Ethan Small". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Adams, Steve (March 28, 2024). "Giants Option Marco Luciano, Select Nick Ahmed, Release Pablo Sandoval". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Franco, Anthony (August 16, 2024). "Giants Reinstate Ethan Small From Injured List". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Guardado, Maria (November 22, 2024). "Yaz in the fold for 2025; SF non-tenders two". San MLB.com. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ Murray, Robert (June 10, 2019). "'This guy is the best pitcher out there': Behind the Brewers' scouting process of Ethan Small". The Athletic. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
- ^ Friedman, Rob [@PitchingNinja] (May 24, 2019). "Ethan Small, 4 Windups (quick pitch, regular, pause and long pause), Overlay. https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/D7VGq2QXkAAc_t7.mp4" (Tweet). Retrieved November 23, 2024 – via Twitter.
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet