| Matt Capps | |
|---|---|
 Capps with the Minnesota Twins | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1983-09-03)September 3, 1983 (age 41) Douglasville, Georgia, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 16, 2005, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 24, 2012, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 29–33 |
| Earned run average | 3.52 |
| Strikeouts | 319 |
| Saves | 138 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Matthew Dicus Capps (born September 3, 1983) is an American former professionalbaseballrelief pitcher. He is a 2002 graduate ofAlexander High School inDouglasville, Georgia, where he lettered infootball,basketball,cross-country and baseball before receiving a scholarship toLouisiana State University. He has played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for thePittsburgh Pirates,Washington Nationals andMinnesota Twins.
Capps was born inDouglasville, Georgia to Mike and Kathy Capps.[1][2] Capps played high school baseball atRobert S. Alexander High School and signed a letter of intent to playcollege baseball atLouisiana State.[3]
Capps was drafted by the Pirates in the 7th round of the 2002Major League Baseball Draft.
Drafted as a starting pitcher, Capps was moved to the bullpen to begin the season. He pitched well in his new role, earning multiple promotions and pitching across three different minor league levels. On September 16, Capps had his contract purchased fromTriple AIndianapolis. He debuted later that same day.
Capps made the team out of spring training. He began the season in a middle relief role but ended the season as Pittsburgh's primary set up man behind closersMike González andSalomón Torres.He pitched in 80.2 innings across 85 games, posting a 9-1 record and a 3.79 ERA with 56 strikeouts. He led all Major League rookie pitchers in appearances.
He began the year as the team's set-up man, but took over the closer's role midway through the season.[4] He finished the season with 21 saves to go along with a 4-7 record and a 2.28 ERA in 79 innings across 76 games.
Capps started the season with 15 consecutive saves. On July 2, he was placed on thedisabled list after experiencing arm soreness.[5] He spent nearly two months on theInjured List, finishing the season with 21 saves and a 2-3 record in 49 games.
Capps earned 27 saves while posting a 5.80 ERA over 54.1 innings pitched. He was non-tendered at the end of the season, becoming a free agent.
On January 6, 2010, Capps signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with theWashington Nationals.[6] Capps was named theDelivery Man of the Month Award winner for April 2010, after recording ten saves in ten opportunities with an ERA of 0.68 for the month.[7] He would convert his first 16 save opportunities of the season, en route to recording 23 saves in the season's opening half, good for a tie for second in the major leagues. He earned his firstAll-Star Game selection, voted in on the Player's Ballot. He was the leading vote-getter among all NL relievers.
Capps went on to be the winning pitcher in thegame. The sixth hurler for the NL, he struck out the previous day'sHome Run Derby winner David Ortiz looking with a 2–2 fastball to end the sixth inning, holding the American Leaguers to a 1–0 lead. He was the beneficiary of Brian McCann's three-run double in the seventh.[8][9]
On July 29, 2010, Capps was traded to theMinnesota Twins for catcherWilson Ramos and left-handed pitcher Joe Testa. He took over the closer role fromJon Rauch[10] and picked up his firstsave as a Twin in his first outing against theSeattle Mariners, on July 30. Through October 2, Capps was 2–0 with a 2.00 ERA for the Twins, with 16 saves in 18 opportunities. Upon the return ofJoe Nathan, Capps was reassigned to the setup role for the 2011 season. After two blown saves in a row, Nathan relinquished the closer role to Capps on April 16. Capps again became a setup man for Nathan after a dramatic loss atTarget Field on July 15, 2011.
In December 2011, Capps re-signed with the Twins. The contract guarantees at least one year and at least $4,750,000.
On October 24, 2012, the Twins announced they would decline their club option for Capps worth $6MM. Capps received a $250K buyout.[11]
On January 31, 2013, theCleveland Indians announced they signed Capps to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. They subsequently released him on March 25. He was re-signed to another minor league contract a day later. He was assigned to Triple-AColumbus, where he pitched in 6 games before going on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. On June 5, he underwent surgery, ending his season. He gave up 1 run in 7 innings in those 6 games with Columbus, striking out 3.
On October 17, 2013, Capps signed another minor league deal with the Indians with an invitation to spring training.[12] He became a free agent following the 2014 season.
On February 10, 2015, theAtlanta Braves signed Capps to a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training.[13] He was released on April 4.[14] The Braves resigned Capps to another minor league deal on April 6. He was later released on May 2.
On February 29, 2016, Capps signed a minor league contract with theArizona Diamondbacks. In 39 appearances for the Triple–AReno Aces, compiling a 5.15 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 3 saves across50+2⁄3 innings pitched. Capps elected free agency following the season on November 7.[15]
Capps throws five pitches: afour-seam fastball andtwo-seam fastball (91–95 mph),slider (85–89), andchangeupsplitter (87–89). Left-handed hitters see more two-seam fastballs and changeups, while righties see more four-seamers and sliders. On a handful of occasions, Capps has experimented with acutter to right-handers.[16]
Capps is aChristian. Capps has spoken about his faith saying, "Baseball is our national pastime, and a lot of people look up to us because of what we do. To be able to use that and funnel that into sharingChrist is an unbelievable opportunity."[17] He wasbaptized aBaptist at ten years old.[3]
Starting with the 2021 season, Capps became a broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Pirates, splitting his time between radio and television.[18][19]