Small wishes to come up big
PEORIA, Ariz. – Aaron Small’s long and oscillating baseball career would be otherwise unremarkable if not for one three-month stretch of brilliance with the New York Yankees in 2005.
Small, a midseason call-up that year who helped the Yankees reach the playoffs by going 10-0 with a 3.20 ERA, is trying to recapture that form this spring as a non-roster invite to Seattle Mariners camp. If the 35-year-old right-hander can somehow win a spot in the bullpen it would be his eighth big league team in an 18-year professional career.
“I’m not here to try to prove anything to myself or anyone else. I just love playing this game,” said Small, who began his pro career in 1989 in the Toronto organization. “I’ve been doing it for a long time and I’m appreciative of the opportunity the Mariners have given me.”
That opportunity is ever so slight. Nearly all the spots in Seattle’s bullpen are taken. Small remains a long shot, although it’s to his benefit that he’s versatile enough to pitch middle or long relief and occasionally start. His best hope is to impress enough to secure a spot with Triple-A Tacoma and be ready if needed by the big club during the season.
Small, who signed as a free agent with New York in 2005, was promoted from Triple-A Columbus to the Yankees on July 20 that season. He made nine starts and six appearances out of the bullpen, becoming just the fourth pitcher in history to win at least 10 games without a loss. He also relieved in one playoff game.
“I ask God, why did it take that long? But that’s just the way it is,” Small said. “Maybe 10 years ago I couldn’t have handled that success.”
The story ended, however, on June 6 last season when the Yankees designated him for assignment. He was 0-3 with an 8.46 ERA. His demise began when he couldn’t fully recover from a spring training hamstring strain.
“After it happened it seemed like it was an uphill battle all year long just to try to get back,” he said. “For some reason, I just couldn’t do it.”
His entire career seemingly has been tilted on a 45-degree incline. It took him five years to reach the majors, with the Blue Jays in 1994. He was traded to Florida the following season. During a six-day span in January 1996, he was on three teams.
Florida needed a 40-man roster spot so it placed him on waivers with the hope of keeping him. But Seattle claimed him, then immediately tried to do the same thing. Oakland ultimately claimed him from Seattle and used him for parts of the next three seasons. After that, Arizona, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay, Colorado, Anaheim, Atlanta, the Chicago Cubs, Florida again and the Yankees all took a chance on him.
“As a young player I think you try to do too much. Then when you get into trouble you try to throw past a guy,” said Small, explaining his inability to stay in one spot. “What finally dawned on me is, I don’t throw 95 anymore. So I sink it, change it, change the batter’s eye level. So when it’s a hitter’s count, instead of trying to throw past a guy I may throw a changeup or something he’s not looking for. I think that comes with learning how to pitch.”