Carter Capps among seven players reassigned to minor leagues

Carter Capps, the hard-throwing right-hander the Miami Marlins acquired in the Logan Morrison trade two years ago, learned on Tuesday morning that he did not crack the team’s 2015 Opening Day roster.

The Marlins announced that Capps, along with six others, had been reassigned to minor league camp on Tuesday. The other names were less surprising, with Capps really the only player who had even the longest shot of making the Marlins 25-man roster.

The others were catcher Vinny Rottino and infield prospect Austin Nola, and non-roster pitchers Pat Misch, Pat Urckfitz, Vin Mazzaro and Ryan Chaffee.

Capps had a 9.54 ERA in 4.2 innings this spring, allowing a .263 opponent batting average and 1.93 WHIP. His problem was throwing strikes; he walked four but still managed to strike out six, but was forced to throw a ton of pitches each outing. Capps broke camp hoping to clinch one of the Marlins late inning setup roles.

"“Capps was a tough one,” manager Mike Redmond said. “This guy has big league time. I think, for him, it’s a matter of going down and being more consistent. He has big league stuff and has been there."

Capps spent much of 2014 on the disabled list, but the team sees him as a part of its future. Last year across 20.1 innings with the Marlins Capps posted a 3.98 ERA with 25 strikeouts to just five walks. He can hit 100 mph on the radar gun, and should be one of the first to get the phone call when bullpen help is needed this season.

The 24 year-old Capps will begin the season at Triple-A New Orleans. The Marlins, who have entertained the idea of carrying 13 pitchers to just 12 hitters on its roster, still have some work to do with the bullpen. The rotation appears to be set, with Henderson Alvarez, Mat Latos, Jarred Cosart, Dan Haren and Tom Koehler the one-through-five. If my math is correct after sifting through the team transactions page, there should be around 32 players left in big league camp. Brad Hand, who is out of options, and Rule V pick Andrew McKirahan, seem to have very good chances of making the team. If the Marlins indeed carry that extra pitcher, it wouldn’t be unheard-of for them to carry three lefties.

Right-handers David Phelps, Aaron Crow and Preston Claiborne are roster contenders as well.

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