Carter Capps


Carter Lewis Capps is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball for the Padres, Seattle Mariners, and Miami Marlins.

Early life and career

Capps was a backup catcher at North Lenoir High School. He was converted to a pitcher in his freshman year at Mount Olive College. He posted a 24–1 win–loss record after two years and pitched in the Cape Cod League as a relief pitcher for the Harwich Mariners in 2011.
He earned attention for a three-inning, five-strikeout performance on July 13, 2010, against Team USA's collegiate all-star team.

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

Capps was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the third round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft out of Mount Olive.
After a poor 2011 debut with the Clinton LumberKings of the Class A Midwest League, in which he had a 1–1 record and a 6.00 earned run average in 18 innings, Capps improved dramatically with his performance as the closer for the Jackson Generals of the Class AA Southern League in 2012. Before being promoted to the Tacoma Rainiers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League Capps struck out 72 hitters in 50 innings and posted 19 saves, along with a 1.26 ERA. He pitched only innings in AAA. For his performance with the Generals, Capps was named the best relief pitcher in the Southern League in 2012.
Capps was called up to the majors for the first time on July 31, 2012. He made his major league debut against the New York Yankees on August 3. His first recorded out was against Derek Jeter.
Capps was recalled by the Mariners on August 6, 2013.

Miami Marlins

On December 13, 2013, the Mariners traded Capps to the Miami Marlins for Logan Morrison. In 2015, Capps pitched to a 1.16 ERA. On March 8, 2016 in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Dr. James Andrews performed Tommy John surgery on Capps, ruling him out for the 2016 season. Capps had entered spring training expecting to compete with A. J. Ramos for the role of Marlins closer.

San Diego Padres

On July 29, 2016, the Marlins traded Capps, Josh Naylor, Jarred Cosart, and Luis Castillo to the San Diego Padres for Andrew Cashner, Colin Rea, Tayron Guerrero, and cash considerations.
Capps began the 2017 season on the disabled list, to continue rehabbing from his previous Tommy John surgery. He was outrighted to Triple-A on March 26, 2018. Capps declared free agency on October 9, 2018.

Pitching style

Although his four-seam fastball was in the low 90s as a starter in college, it averages 99 mph out of the bullpen now, as-well at times 100-101 MPH. He pairs the hard fastball with a sweeping curveball at 81–85 mph and an occasional changeup against left-handed hitters.
With his tall frame, Capps releases the ball at a low three-quarters arm angle far to the side of the pitching rubber, making it difficult for right-handed hitters to pick up the ball out of his hand.
He is notable for having a unique leaping hitch in his delivery, which has been described as a "slide skip", a "hop-step", and a "crow-hop". The delivery shortens the distance between him and the batter before he releases the ball. The delivery was reviewed by MLB and deemed legal, despite a rule change concerning pitching before the 2017 season.