NEWSLETTER
The man with the most interesting delivery has returned to The Show.
It is time to get re-acquainted with Carter Capps, the 26-year-old right-hander who has struck out 30 percent of the batters he has faced in his Major League career, and averages nearly 12 strikeouts per nine innings.
After two years with the Miami Marlins, Capps’ odd-looking throwing motion has made its way to camp with the San Diego Padres, as pitchers and catchers report this week around baseball.
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Appreciate the impressive strength and balance in slow motion:
https://twitter.com/Padres/status/831917274227281920
After you get over the impressiveness, though, you will have one question: How is this even legal?
Capps hops off of the rubber, and then pushes off again off of the dirt, much closer to home plate.
For the record, Major League Baseball says it is a legal delivery for now – even though he was called for an illegal pitch at the minor league level.
Capps owns a 3.99 ERA (but 3.07 FIP) in 118 relief appearances with the Seattle Mariners and Miami Marlins. But also possesses the kind of pitching motion that leaves you bemused. Which makes you wonder how the players in the batters box feel when all that action is jumping at you and a pitch is being hurled in your direction – especially at 98 mph.
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That delivery generating 98 with movement – is Carter Capps a cartoon character?
Capps, who tried removing the hop in 2015, missed the 2016 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and is looking to bounce back after being acquired by San Diego in July 2016 as part of a deal that sent Andrew Cashner to Miami.
The hop returns for another year, much to the chagrin of hitters (and umpires) who have to face it.
Of course, if MLB doesn’t stop him, there’s a chance Capps will just evolve into the next iteration of his crazy delivery:
Now *that's* an unorthodox delivery. pic.twitter.com/1pSEAVx3ps
— Baseball is Fun (@flippingbats) February 15, 2017
