Marlins notes: Reliever Carter Capps hopeful on second opinion for elbow injury
MIAMI -- Miami Marlins right-handed reliever Carter Capps remains hopeful leading up to a second opinion on his right elbow sprain.
Capps, who will visit Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. this Wednesday, is on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive May 26).
"I won't have a level of concern until Wednesday when I get a second opinion, so right now waiting on a holding pattern," said Capps, who spoke to media for the first time since the injury.
When asked what the first MRI and opinion revealed, Capps would not go into detail, instead saying, "just going to wait until the second opinion to see what they say. Just more eyes on the MRI."
The 23-year-old said the discomfort came on gradually and was a general soreness. He has never had this happen in his career.
After his April 23 call-up, Capps tossed six of seven scoreless outings. But he allowed three runs on four hits over his last two appearances with two walks and just one strikeout. His velocity topped out at 99 mph last Sunday.
"I'm not happy, obviously," Capps said. "I want to be out there playing, but it's something I've got to deal with right now. See what they say. Right now they're just saying to rehab it and taking time off. That's all I can do."
The club currently has him resting his arm for four weeks. Capps hopes to be back in time for the second half of the season in mid-July.
Manager Mike Redmond said he didn't know whether a trip to Dr. Andrews, known for performing Tommy John surgery on athletes of various sports, worried him.
"I think there's been a fair amount of guys who have gone to see him and have been alright and been able to pitch," Redmond said. "Hopefully that's the case with him."
NCAA BASEBALL
Right-hander A.J. Ramos took in a few innings of Texas Tech's NCAA Regional opener against Columbia before heading to Marlins Park on Friday afternoon.
Ramos played for the Red Raiders from 2006-09, rejoining the weekend rotation less than a year out of Tommy John surgery in his final season. He ended his career with 241 strikeouts, ranking fifth all-time in program history. Ramos also racked up 254 innings for sixth.
Depending on how Saturday's game between the Braves and Marlins goes, Ramos may head back to Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field to catch the matchup between second-seed Texas Tech and the top-seeded Miami Hurricanes.
"They start the season in February -- the first game was when we had to come for Marlins Ayudan, so I didn't get to watch them," Ramos said. "I go out to some of their practices and check them out, and I would work out with them, too. They were always in the weight room when I was there."
Texas Tech coach Tim Tadlock wasn't around when Ramos played in Lubbock, but he did try to recruit him to play for Grayson County, where Tadlock captured two JUCO World Series titles in five trips.
The 27-year-old never reached NCAA Regional play during his time at Tech. In fact, Friday's 3-2 win for the Red Raiders marked their first tournament victory since 2002. They last made it a decade ago.
"Six guys drafted from that team just couldn't put it together," Ramos said. "Not sure why for some reason couldn't get it done."
WORTH NOTING
Right-hander Henderson Alvarez's bullpen session went well on Saturday, meaning he will return to the rotation on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Second baseman Rafael Furcal was scheduled to play another game at Single-A Jupiter on Saturday before getting Sunday off. He would then start another two games before moving on to Double-A Jacksonville.
Furcal, on the 60-day disabled list, is on his third rehab assignment -- this time for tightness in his right groin. The 36-year-old previously tried working back from a left hamstring strain he sustained during spring training.
Saturday marked a special anniversary for Redmond, who made his major-league debut 16 years ago when the Florida Marlins lost to the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-6, at County Stadium.
"Didn't even put it together, but I remember that day like it was yesterday," Redmond said. "Big day, big moment of my life. Hard to believe it was 16 (years ago). I'm an old man. That was a fun day. 3-for-3 and hit a homer in my major-league debut and got pinch-hit for. Never forget that."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
