Marlins reinstate pitchers Carter Capps, Dan Jennings from disabled list
MIAMI -- On the first day of expanded rosters, the Miami Marlins reinstated left-handed reliever Dan Jennings and right-handed reliever Carter Capps.
Jennings, who was struck by Jordy Mercer's liner to the head Aug. 7, was on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion. It marked his first time on the DL.
"Obviously my first thought was year's over," Jennings said. "Now I'm back and able to play again. It's awesome."
The 27-year-old didn't allow a run on three hits with nine strikeouts and one walk in four minor-league appearances (seven innings) between the Gulf Coast Marlins and Single-A Jupiter Hammerheads.
During the stint, Jennings didn't face any comebackers. A sharp grounder did go near his feet that he was unable to get but didn't bother him.
"It felt good to be able to pitch in less tense situations, I guess you could say, where not much is expected," Jennings said. "It was good and fun to pitch against some younger hitters and be able to do well.
"I've done it for so long, and fortunately -- I'm not exactly a veteran -- but I'm a few appearances deep into my career that it makes it a little bit easier. Still, you always have the jitters of pitching in a major-league game. But it'll be less than if it was my first season or something like that and I'm only a few appearances deep and I'd be nervous not only about pitching but I'd be nervous just about the situation in general. I think it was good timing in that respect, where it happened in August where I could come back in September. It happened in my third year of playing here now."
Looking back on the pitch to Mercer, Jennings sees one that started on the outer half of the plate and cut to the middle. Every time he throws a ball that does that it's not necessarily a fear of it getting hit back to him but of a bad pitch in general.
Jennings is 0-1 with a 1.03 ERA in 38 outings for the Marlins this season, including eight straight games without an earned run.
"When something like that happens, the team as well as myself want to make sure I can get back on the mound and still pitch," Jennings said. "You know, I'm sure guys have dealt with stuff that makes it scary for 'em to get back on the mound, and I'm fortunate that I didn't have any lapses or anything like that, that I was able to just get back on and pitch and it felt natural."
Capps had been resting a right elbow sprain since late May. A visit to Dr. James Andrews confirmed the organization's belief he didn't require Tommy John surgery.
Acquired in the offseason Logan Morrison trade with the Seattle Mariners, Capps worked on his mechanics during spring training and struggled initially. He began the season with Triple-A New Orleans before making his debut April 27.
"Not much different just confidence knowing the arm wasn't hurting," Capps said. "I've been letting it go and everything felt fine. I didn't have any problems. Before when it was hurting it was hurting mainly on fastballs to my glove side and I hadn't had any problems on extension, slider, changeup.
"I felt good in spring training but obviously I didn't feel mechanically I was where I wanted to be and that probably caused some of the inflammation and some of the problems that eventually led to the injury. I feel great right now and mechanics feel good. Pretty happy."
Prior to the injury, Capps was 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in nine appearances for the Marlins. In 12 innings, he permitted four runs on 10 hits with three walks and 15 strikeouts. Six of his first seven outings were scoreless until his final two in which he surrendered three runs.
The 24-year-old started playing catch a month ago and throwing bullpen sessions a week later. He pitched three shutout outings over 3 1/3 frames for the Marlins and Hammerheads as part of his rehab assignment. He gave up a hit and an unearned run with two walks and four strikeouts.
"It's definitely a huge confidence boost," Capps said of returning. "I really wanted to go into the offseason not leaving a bad taste in the Marlins' mouth. They obviously gave me a great opportunity to be up here and I definitely want to prove that I can pitch up here and pitch healthy."
Miami transferred right-handed reliever Kevin Gregg (right elbow inflammation, retroactive July 14) to the 60-day DL as a corresponding 40-man roster move.
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
