Giants' Ethan Small: Activated, optioned to Triple-A
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The Giants activated Small (oblique) from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday.
Small was shut down in March due to a right oblique strain and was subsequently placed on the IL. He's since completed a rehab assignment at Triple-A and will remain in Sacramento following Friday's transaction.
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Giants' Ethan Small: Moves rehab to Single-A
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Small (oblique) shifted his rehab assignment to Single-A San Jose on Saturday and struck out two while allowing one hit and no walks over one inning.
Small was cleared to join the Giants' California League affiliate after he struck out four over three innings of a one-run ball across his three rehab appearances in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. The southpaw will eventually move his rehab assignment up to Triple-A Sacramento, and he could remain with the Giants' top affiliate once he's activated from the 60-day injured list after his 30-day rehab window comes to a close. Small has been on the shelf all season with a right oblique strain.
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Giants' Ethan Small: Sent out on rehab assignment
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Small (oblique) began a rehab assignment Tuesday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, striking out one while allowing one run on one hit and no walks over one inning.
Small has been sidelined all season with a Grade 2 right oblique strain but has finally been cleared to pitch in games. Given the lengthy layoff, the left-handed reliever will likely require an extended rehab assignment before he's activated from the Giants' 60-day injured list. He has a minor-league option remaining and could be sent to Triple-A Sacramento once his rehab assignment concludes.
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Giants' Ethan Small: Faces hitters Friday
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Small (oblique) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Friday, MLB.com reports.
Small had been vying for a spot in the Giants' Opening Day bullpen during spring training before sustaining a Grade 2 right oblique strain late in camp that resulted in him opening the season on the injured list. He was shut down for about two months before he was finally cleared to start playing catch, and he's been gradually increasing the volume and intensity of his throwing sessions. Now that he's resumed facing hitters, Small could be on the cusp of heading out on what will likely be an extended minor-league rehab assignment. The 27-year-old lefty still has a minor-league option remaining, so the Giants could send him to Triple-A Sacramento upon activating him from the 60-day IL if there isn't a spot for him in the big-league bullpen.
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Giants' Ethan Small: Throwing off flat ground
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Small (oblique) is slated to throw out to 120 feet this week, MLB.com reports.
Assuming Small responds well to the long-toss throwing, he could be cleared to start throwing off a mound again as soon as next week. Small has spent the entire season on the Giants' 60-day injured list with a moderate right oblique strain. The 27-year-old lefty still has a minor-league option remaining and could be sent to Triple-A Sacramento once the Giants deem him ready to return from the IL.
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Giants' Ethan Small: Hits 60-day IL
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The Giants placed Small (oblique) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Small sustained a Grade 2 right oblique strain just under two weeks ago and will now spend the first two months of the regular season rehabbing and recovering from the injury after landing on the 60-day IL. The 27-year-old lefty had served as a starter for most of his professional career but made the full-time move to the bullpen last season while he was in the Milwaukee organization.
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Giants' Ethan Small: Not much action in spring
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Small has allowed one run on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts over 3.2 innings across two Cactus League games.
Small isn't getting a particularly long look so far, which doesn't bode well for him making the major-league bullpen. Small worked as a starter in the minors up until last season. He has 10.1 major-league innings under his belt with the Brewers, but he's yet to display much success in the majors. The southpaw would likely end up in a low-leverage role if he happens to break camp with the Giants.
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Giants' Ethan Small: Moved to San Francisco
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Small was traded from the Brewers to the Giants on Monday in exchange for cash considerations, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Small put up solid numbers at Triple-A Nashville in 2023, posting a 3.18 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with a 61:24 K:BB across 51 innings, but it didn't translate to the big leagues in what was a small sample size. The southpaw surrendered five runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out six across four frames. Small will compete for a low-leverage relief role during spring training.
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Brewers' Ethan Small: Loses roster spot
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Small was designated for assignment by the Brewers on Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Small was selected in the first round of the 2019 Draft and rose quickly through Milwaukee's minor-league system. However, he's made just four big-league appearances and shifted to a relief role in 2023. Due to his former prospect pedigree, Small could be claimed by a team on waivers.
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Brewers' Ethan Small: Back in minors
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The Brewers optioned Small to Triple-A Nashville on Friday.
One day after recording his first major-league save, Small will head back to Triple-A in favor of Clayton Andrews. Small holds an 8.71 ERA and a 2.61 WHIP through 10.1 big-league innings in his career, though the 26-year-old lefty could still be in a position to compete for a spot in Milwaukee's bullpen during spring training next year.
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Brewers' Ethan Small: Called up Wednesday
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Small was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old will take the roster spot of J.B. Bukauskas, who landed on the injured list with a finger injury. Small allowed five earned runs over three frames in his lone big-league appearance of the season back in late May.
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Brewers' Ethan Small: Optioned to minors
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The Brewers optioned Small to Triple-A Nashville on Saturday.
Small covered three innings behind starter Freddy Peralta in Friday's loss to the Giants, allowing five runs on nine hits. The lefty's ERA now sits at 15.00, and he was going to be unavailable for a few days after Friday's outing, so it only makes sense that the Brewers would swap him out for a fresh arm. Jake Cousins was recalled in a corresponding move.
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Brewers' Ethan Small: Recalled from Triple-A
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Milwaukee recalled Small from Triple-A Nashville on Friday.
The 26-year-old right-hander will replace Tyson Miller in the Brewers' bullpen ahead of Friday night's game against the visiting Giants. Small has allowed five earned runs in 6.1 innings this season at the MLB level, but he's looked fairly sharp at Triple-A.
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Brewers' Ethan Small: Sent down Wednesday
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Small was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.
Small returned to the majors to start Tuesday's game against the Twins, and he allowed three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out three in 3.2 innings. The Brewers have two scheduled days off approaching, so the Brewers could get by with a four-man rotation in the short term while Small heads back to the minors. Reliever Peter Strzelecki was recalled from Nashville in a corresponding move.
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Brewers' Ethan Small: Wild in return to majors
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Small allowed three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out three in 3.2 innings in a 7-6 victory Tuesday against Minnesota. He didn't factor into the decision.
Small was recalled from Triple-A Nashville to start Tuesday's game and struggled in his return to the majors. Byron Buxton welcomed him back by launching a solo shot to lead off the game and the Twins added two more runs in the third. Only 33 of his 63 pitches went for strikes and he has now walked eight batters in 6.1 innings across his two big-league starts. With two off days over the next week, the Brewers might not need Small to make another start any time soon, and he could return to Nashville shortly.
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Brewers' Ethan Small: Set for Tuesday's start
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Small will start Tuesday's game against the Twins, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Small is slated to make the second start of his big-league career after a shaky debut earlier in 2022. He's expected to remain in the starting five past Tuesday's outing barring any significant changes to Milwaukee's pitching plans.
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Brewers' Ethan Small: Called up, likely to join rotation
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Small was called up from Triple-A Nashville on Monday.
Small will return to Milwaukee for the first time since making his major-league debut May 30, when he allowed two runs over 2.2 innings against the Cubs. The left-hander owns a 3.34 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 81 strikeouts over 72.2 frames in 15 starts with Nashville. Small is expected to start Tuesday versus the Twins, replacing Jason Alexander as the No. 5 option in the rotation.
Small had his contract selected by the Brewers and will start Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader versus the Cubs.
Small will make his major-league debut in the day game Monday. He's posted a 1.88 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 49 strikeouts over 38.1 innings with Triple-A Nashville this season and he could stick around as a sixth starter with the Brewers moving forward.
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Brewers' Ethan Small: Promotion confirmed
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Manager Craig Counsell confirmed Small will have his contract selected from Triple-A Nashville to start Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Small has a 1.88 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 49:21 K:BB over 38.1 innings at Nashville this season, and he's now poised to make his major-league debut. The 25-year-old is Milwaukee's top pitching prospect, and he could secure additional opportunities in the rotation with a strong showing Monday. Aaron Ashby is rounding out the Brewers' rotation with Freddy Peralta (lat) on the injured list, but the team has utilized a six-man group at times this season, and Small may be able to remain in the big leagues as the sixth starter.
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Brewers' Ethan Small: Bound for majors
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The Brewers are planning to select Small's contract from Triple-A Nashville ahead of Monday's doubleheader with the Cubs, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Milwaukee hasn't officially confirmed his call-up or announced their plans for Small, but he's expected to slot into the rotation to start in one half of the series-opening twin bill at Wrigley Field. One of Milwaukee's top pitching prospects, Small dazzled over his eight starts at Nashville this season, logging a 1.88 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 49:21 K:BB across 38.1 innings. Whether he makes any starts beyond Monday will likely hinge on how he performs against the Cubs; if Small excels in his MLB debut, the Brewers could opt to move to a six-man rotation that features the lefty as a replacement for Freddy Peralta (lat), who is without a clear timeline to return from the 15-day injured list.