The young Marlins' second baseman was hurt in April 1993 and among those considered to replace him as AAA second baseman Jeff Small, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel wrote.Small, in his ninth season as a professional, had been hitting .290 early on. But he also hadn't been in the Marlins' big league camp, The Sun-Sentinel wrote.
Small ultimately wouldn't make it to Florida. He also wouldn't make it to the majors. His career would end with the close of that season, having played five seasons at AAA, getting six hits in one game there, but none in the bigs.
Small's career began in 1985, taken by the Cubs in the first round of the January draft. He was sent that year to short-season Geneva, hitting seven home runs, but hitting just .220.
He stayed at single-A for each of the next two seasons, playing 1986 at Peoria and 1987 at Winston-Salem. He hit .229 at Peoria, but increased his average to .279 at Winston-Salem. He hit a two-run home run in July 1987 to help Winston-Salem to a win.
In 1988, he made AA Pittsfield, his average dropping again, to .235. He arrived at AAA in 1989, playing 84 games at Iowa.
He started the season with 28 games back at AA, in Charlotte. He knocked in a run with a double in an April 21 game against Orlando. By late May, he was at Iowa, hitting a two-run home run May 23 at Norfolk.
Small returned to Iowa for 1990, playing 125 games, hitting .287. He also made the AAA All-Star game in July, hitting a double. He had his own personal All-Star game the previous month, getting six hits on June 6, earning a tie for the most in franchise history.
Small returned to Iowa for 1991, but it was his last season with the Cubs' system. He also only played in 36 games. The next year, it was off to Cincinnati and AAA Nashville, hitting .278 on the year.
He signed with the Marlins for 1993, ending his career at AAA Edmonton, hitting .271, but not getting a call up.
- South Florida Sun-Sentinel, April 17, 1993: Barberie Bound for DL With Hurt Elbow
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