Capuano was born and raised in West Springfield, Massachusetts. During his youth, he was a multi-sport athlete, competing in baseball, basketball, and soccer. He grew up as a fan of the Boston Red Sox and recalls playing whiffle ball as a child in his backyard with friends, imagining themselves pitching at Fenway Park in Boston.[1]
Capuano made his MLB debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 4, 2003, against the Atlanta Braves, absorbing the loss in a two-inning relief appearance during extra innings. He made his first major league start on May 17 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, lasting only 4⅔ innings while allowing seven earned runs and taking the loss. Following that start, he was optioned back to the minors but was called up again for a spot start on July 9 against the San Diego Padres. In that outing, he pitched seven innings, allowed just one unearned run, and earned his first major league win. Afterward, he returned to the minors where he made 23 starts for the Sidewinders, posting a 9–5 record with a 3.34 ERA, which earned him Pacific Coast League All-Star honors. Capuano was recalled to the Diamondbacks in September when rosters expanded and finished the season with nine MLB appearances, including five starts, compiling a 2–4 record with a 4.64 ERA.[13]
His 2005 season with the Brewers proved to be a break-out year as he posted 18 wins, the highest total for a Brewer since Teddy Higuera in 1987. He also led the National League in quality starts during the 2005 season. In 2006, Capuano continued his excellent pitching by taking over as the team's new ace with Ben Sheets injured and was named to the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game as a replacement for Tom Glavine.[14] Capuano, however, ended up with only 11 wins in 2006.[13]
Capuano started the 2007 season 5–0 and then the Milwaukee Brewers lost the next 22 games Capuano pitched in from May 12 to September 28. In June he hit his first major league home run against the Florida Marlins.[13][15]
Before the start of the 2008 season, he underwent Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career and missed the entire season.[16]
The Brewers non-tendered Capuano following the 2008 season, making him a free agent but re-signed him to a minor league deal shortly after.[17] He was ultimately limited to just a handful of games in the Brewers rookie leagues as part of his rehab.[18] After becoming a free agent at the end of the season, Capuano was re-signed to a minor league contract with the Brewers on November 23, 2009.[19]
Capuano was invited to the Milwaukee Brewers' spring training for the 2010 season, but early on he complained of arm soreness and was placed in extended spring training.[20] He would start the regular season with the Single A, Brevard County Manatees of the Florida State League.[21] Capuano would only need 3 appearances with the Manatees before being promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.[22] In those 3 appearances, Capuano registered a 2–0 record with a 1.23 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 142⁄3 innings pitched. On May 28, 2010, Capuano made his final start for the Sounds, and was pulled after four innings. After the game, it was announced the Brewers had purchased his minor league contract and he was recalled to the majors.[23]
Capuano started the Brewers' June 3, 2010, game against the Florida Marlins in Miami, giving up three runs on seven hits in 32⁄3 innings while striking out four and walking one. He was charged with the loss in the 3–2 Marlins win.[24] On July 3, he appeared in a Brewers victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis. This snapped the streak of 26 straight losses he had appeared in between 2007 and 2010.[25] He held the Pittsburgh Pirates to one run on three hits over five innings on July 19 to get his first win since 2007.[26]
Capuano signed with the New York Mets prior to the 2011 season.[27] On August 26, 2011, while pitching against the Atlanta Braves, he threw his first complete gameshutout since 2005, setting a career-high with 13 strikeouts in the game.[28] During the 2011 season, Capuano made 31 starts for the Mets—his most since 2006—and also appeared twice in relief. He finished the season with an 11–12 record and a 4.55 ERA.[13]
Los Angeles Dodgers
On December 2, 2011, Capuano signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.[29] He started the 2012 season strong, with a 9–4 record and 2.91 in his first 18 starts but went only 3–8 with a 4.76 in his last 15 starts. Overall, he was 12–12 with a 3.72 in 33 starts.[13]
Capuano began the 2013 season in the bullpen due to the Dodgers having too many starting pitchers. He got the start on April 16 due to an injury to Zack Greinke but suffered a strained left calf and only lasted three innings.[30] He wound up making 20 starts for the team in 2013, despite missing time with various injuries.[31] He also appeared in four games out of the bullpen.[32] His final record was 4–7 with a 4.26 ERA.[13] He pitched out of the bullpen in the playoffs.[33]
Boston Red Sox
On February 20, 2014, Capuano reportedly agreed to a $2.25 million, one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. He passed his physical and the deal was made official on February 22, 2014.[34]
Capuano began the 2014 season with 15 consecutive scoreless innings. From May 3, 2014, through June 23, 2014, he allowed 17 runs over 16+2⁄3 innings. On June 25, 2014, he was designated for assignment.[35] He was released on July 1.[36]
On July 24, 2014. Capuano was traded to the New York Yankees from the Rockies for cash considerations.[39] In 12 starts for the Yankees, Capuano went 2–3 with a 4.25 ERA.
Despite being a free agent, Capuano pitched for the MLB All-Star team in the 2014 MLB Japan All-Star Series.[40] Wearing a Yankee uniform, he started two games for the MLB All-Stars, allowing just one earned run on five hits and striking out seven batters.[41][42]
On December 16, 2014, Capuano re-signed with the Yankees on a one-year, $5 million contract.[43] He was designated for assignment on July 29, 2015.[44] He was called back up by the Yankees on August 12 and designated for assignment again three days later.[45] The Yankees then recalled him again on August 18 to take the place of Bryan Mitchell, who had been injured by a line drive during a spot start the previous evening.[46]
After being designated for assignment once again on August 22, he elected free agency on August 24. However, due to an injury to CC Sabathia, Capuano immediately re-signed with the Yankees. He was designated for assignment yet again the following day when Michael Pineda was activated from the DL.[47] He was called up again on September 7.[48]
Milwaukee Brewers
In January 2016, Capuano signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, marking his second stint with the organization.[49] After spring training, he secured a place on the major league roster and performed effectively out of the bullpen during the first two months of the season until sustaining an elbow injury in a game against the Atlanta Braves.[50]
Retirement
On March 6, 2018, Capuano retired from professional baseball.[9]
Capuano was primarily a finesse pitcher who relied on his deceptive delivery, accuracy, and ability to change speeds. His fastball averaged in the upper 80s, occasionally reaching the low 90s, particularly early in games or later in his career during relief appearances. Capuano also threw a slider and a changeup, and he possessed an excellent pickoff move; in 2005, he led the MLB with 12 pickoffs.[52]
After his playing career, Capuano pursued further education by obtaining an MBA from the MIT Sloan Fellows Program, graduating in 2019. During his time at MIT, he served as a strategy and development advisor for Proteus Motion, initially focusing on its flagship fitness and training technology platform.[54][55] On July 5, 2019, Capuano was appointed Director of Operations at the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).[56][57] In 2022, he was promoted to Senior Director of Operations, Business, and Strategy.[58]
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