The 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
On 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]
On December 5, 2024, Small re–signed with the Giants organization on a minor league contract.[26]
Pitching style
Small features a lively low- to mid-90 mph fastball—scouts often described it as a "rising" fastball—a curveball and changeup.[27] 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.[28]
