Carter Capps

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Carter Capps

|image = Carter Capps pitching for the Miami Marlins in 2014 (Cropped).jpg

|width = 280

|caption = Capps with the Miami Marlins

|team =Seattle Redhawks

|number =

|position = Pitcher / Coach

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|8|7}}

|birth_place = Kinston, North Carolina, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 3

|debutyear = 2012

|debutteam = Seattle Mariners

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = September 8

|finalyear = 2017

|finalteam = San Diego Padres

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 4–3

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 4.21

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 184

|teams =

As player

Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2013}})
Miami Marlins ({{mlby|2014}}–{{mlby|2015}})
San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2017}})

As coach

Seattle Redhawks ({{mlby|2021}}–present)

}}

Carter Lewis Capps (born August 7, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher, and current pitching coach for the Seattle Redhawks. Capps played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, and Miami Marlins from 2012 to 2017.

Amateur career

File:Carter Capps pitching.JPG

Capps attended North Lenoir High School in LaGrange, North Carolina. He played for the school's baseball team as a backup catcher.{{cite news|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/08/08/2249609/kinstons-capps-reaches-major-leagues.html|title=Kinston's Capps reaches major leagues a year after being drafted|last=Kudialis|first=Chris|date=August 8, 2012|work=News & Observer|access-date=September 26, 2012|location=Charlotte, NC|archive-date=December 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218130357/http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/08/08/2249609/kinstons-capps-reaches-major-leagues.html|url-status=dead}} He enrolled at Mount Olive College and played for the baseball team as a pitcher. He posted a 24–1 win–loss record after two years (including an NCAA Division II-record of 24 straight wins). In 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod League as a relief pitcher for the Harwich Mariners, and was named a league all-star.{{cite web|url=http://mariners.scout.com/2/1187209.html|title=SeattleClubhouse Q&A: Carter Capps|last=Randall|first=Rick|date=May 19, 2012|work=Scout.com|access-date=September 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213215812/http://mariners.scout.com/2/1187209.html|archive-date=December 13, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=142730&seasonid=532 |title=#25 Carter Capps |publisher=pointstreak.com |access-date=August 12, 2021}}

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.{{cite press release|title=Mariners sign third-round selection Carter Capps|work=MLB.com|date=August 9, 2011|url=http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20110809&content_id=22984076&vkey=pr_sea&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213203237/http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20110809&content_id=22984076&vkey=pr_sea&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 13, 2013|access-date=September 26, 2012}}

After a poor 2011 debut with the Clinton LumberKings of the Single–A Midwest League, in which he had a 1–1 record and a 6.00 earned run average (ERA) in 18 innings, Capps improved dramatically with his performance as the closer for the Jackson Generals of the Double–A Southern League in 2012. Before being promoted to the Tacoma Rainiers of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League Capps struck out 72 hitters in 50 innings and posted 19 saves, along with a 1.26 ERA. He pitched only {{fraction|1|1|3}} innings in Triple–A.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=capps-000car|title=Carter Capps Minor League Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=September 26, 2012}} For his performance with the Generals, Capps was named the best relief pitcher in the Southern League in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://chrisharris.mlblogs.com/2012/09/14/generals-update-slcs-gm4-friday-september-14/|title=Generals Update (SLCS Gm4 – Friday, September 14)|last=Harris|first=Chris|date=September 14, 2012|work=Inside the Jackson Generals|publisher=MLBlogs Network|access-date=September 26, 2012}}

Capps was called up to the majors for the first time on July 31, 2012.{{cite news|url=http://blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners/2012/07/31/more-pregame-notes-lineups-carter-capps-and-stephen-pryor-officially-called-up-peguero-sent-down/|title=More pregame notes & lineups: Carter Capps and Stephen Pryor officially called up, Peguero sent down.|last=Divish|first=Ryan|date=July 31, 2012|work=The News Tribune|access-date=September 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211225053/http://blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners/2012/07/31/more-pregame-notes-lineups-carter-capps-and-stephen-pryor-officially-called-up-peguero-sent-down/|archive-date=December 11, 2013|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130806&content_id=56054858&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|title=Mariners option Wilhelmsen, recall Capps|date=August 6, 2013|access-date=August 6, 2013|first=Greg|last=Johns|work=mlb.com}}

=Miami Marlins=

On December 13, 2013, the Mariners traded Capps to the Miami Marlins for Logan Morrison.{{cite news|last1=Rodriguez|first1=Juan C.|title=Marlins make Morrison trade official|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-12-13/sports/fl-marlins-1214-20131213_1_logan-morrison-baseball-operations-michael-hill-seattle-mariners|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005202723/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-12-13/sports/fl-marlins-1214-20131213_1_logan-morrison-baseball-operations-michael-hill-seattle-mariners|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 5, 2015|access-date=April 14, 2015|work=Sun Sentinel|date=December 13, 2013}} In 2015, Capps pitched to a 1.16 ERA.{{cite web|last1=Petriello|first1=Mike|title=Game of thrown: Carter Capps is king?|url=http://mlb.com|work=mlb.com|access-date=January 10, 2016}} 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.{{cite news|last1=Fernandez|first1=Andre C.|title=Marlins' Carter Capps undergoes Tommy John surgery|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/miami-marlins/article64728937.html|access-date=26 August 2016|work=Miami Herald|date=March 8, 2016}}

=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.{{cite press release|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/padres-acquire-four-players-from-miami-marlins-in-seven-player-trade-192421780|title=Padres acquire four players from Miami Marlins in seven-player trade|work=MLB.com|date=July 29, 2016|access-date=July 29, 2016|archive-date=August 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801070923/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/192421780/padres-acquire-four-players-from-miami-marlins-in-seven-player-trade/|url-status=live}}

Capps began the 2017 season on the disabled list, to continue rehabbing from his previous Tommy John surgery.{{cite web|last1=Cassavell|first1=AJ|title=Capps to begin 2017 season on DL|url=http://m.padres.mlb.com/news/article/221415632/padres-carter-capps-works-back-from-surgery/?topicId=27118400|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331114503/http://m.padres.mlb.com/news/article/221415632/padres-carter-capps-works-back-from-surgery/?topicId=27118400|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2017|work=MLB.com|date=March 29, 2017|access-date=March 30, 2017}} He was outrighted to Triple-A on March 26, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/03/padres-outright-carter-capps.html|title=Padres Outright Carter Capps|last=Byrne|first=Connor|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=March 26, 2018|access-date=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,{{cite web|url=http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/8/8/3228261/prospect-notes-carter-capps-and-stephen-pryor-seattle-mariners|title=Prospect Notes: Carter Capps and Stephen Pryor, Seattle Mariners - Minor League Ball|last=Sickels|first=John|date=August 8, 2012|work=Minor League Ball|publisher=SBNation.com|access-date=September 26, 2012}} it averaged 99 mph out of the bullpen in the majors, as-well at times 100-101 MPH. He paired the hard fastball with a sweeping curveball at 81–85 mph and an occasional changeup against left-handed hitters.{{cite web|url=http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=605169|title=Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool - Player Card: Carter Capps|publisher=Brooks Baseball|access-date=September 26, 2012}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2012/8/9/3231201/carter-capps-seattle-mariners-mechanics|title=Carter Capps, Visualized|last=Sullivan|first=Jeff|date=August 9, 2012|work=Lookout Landing|publisher=SBNation.com|access-date=September 26, 2012}}

He was notable for having a unique leaping hitch in his delivery, which was described as a "slide skip",{{cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/carter-capps-delivery-041715|title=MLB re-examines weirdest pitching delivery in game|first=Jimmy|last=Traina|date=April 17, 2015|access-date=August 20, 2015|work=Fox Sports}} a "hop-step",{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/144159348/goldschmidt-mlb-best-lost-seasons-2015-gray|title=Best Under-the-Radar Seasons|first=Anthony|last=Castrovince|date=August 20, 2015|access-date=August 20, 2015|work=Sports on Earth}} and a "crow-hop".{{cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/2015/07/08/watch-xander-bogaerts-game-winning-hit-against-mlb-strangest-pitcher/aAFdxrNbYPWwmF2za3nnnJ/story.html?story_hp|title=Watch Xander Bogaerts's game-winning hit against MLB's strangest pitcher|first=Henry|last=McKenna|date=July 8, 2015|access-date=August 20, 2015|work=Boston.com}} The delivery shortened the distance between him and the batter before he released the ball.{{cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/2015/07/09/carter-capps-bizarre-throwing-motion-illegal/c9Hd6I0q8vLVSFxx7CfYRM/story.html|title=Is Carter Capps's bizarre throwing motion illegal?|first=Henry|last=McKenna|date=July 9, 2015|access-date=August 20, 2015|work=Boston.com}} The delivery was reviewed by MLB and deemed legal,{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/56955/carter-capps-delivery-is-strange-and-apparently-legal|title=Carter Capps' delivery is strange and apparently legal|first=David|last=Schoenfield|date=April 14, 2015|access-date=August 20, 2015|work=ESPN}} despite a rule change concerning pitching before the 2017 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sd-sp-padnotes-20170302-story.html|title=Carter Capps' delivery still expected to be legal after MLB rule addition|first=Dennis|last=Lin|date=March 2, 2017|access-date=March 29, 2017|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune}}

Coaching career

On January 12, 2021, Capps joined the New York Mets organization as a minor league pitching coach and coordinator.

On November 23, 2021, Capps was announced as the new pitching coach for the Seattle Redhawks, Seattle University's men's baseball team which competes in the NCAA's Division I as a member institution of the Western Athletic Conference,{{cite tweet|number=1463228021775605766|user=CarterCapps|title=So thankful for the opportunity Seattle U has given my family and I. I am very excited to be joining the Redhawks!…|date=November 23, 2021}} returning him to the city where he began his major league career.