Chris Capuano

Christopher Frank Capuano (born August 19, 1978) is an American former professional baseball pitcher whose professional playing career spanned from 2000 through 2016.

In 1997 and 1998, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and returned to the league in 1999 to play for the Bourne Braves.

Capuano was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 8th round of the 1999 amateur draft (238th overall).

He played with South Bend Silver Hawks of the Class A Midwest League in 2000 and the El Paso Diablos of the Class AA Texas League in 2001.

He began 2002 with the Tucson Sidewinders of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) and was 4–1 with a 2.72 ERA when, on May 17, he had Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of the season.

He made his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks on May 4, 2003, against the Atlanta Braves, picking up the loss in a two-inning appearance in extra innings.

He made his first start on May 17 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but only lasted 4 and innings while allowing seven earned runs to take the loss.

He was optioned back to the minors after that start and called back up for a spot start on July 9 against the San Diego Padres, where he worked seven innings, allowed only one unearned run and picked up his first victory.

He returned to the minors after the appearance, where he made 23 starts for Tucson, with a 9–5 record and 3.34 ERA, earning him PCL All-Star honors.

He returned to the Diamondbacks when rosters expanded in September and overall appeared in 9 games for them, with 5 starts, and was 2–4 with a 4.64 ERA.

On December 1, 2003, Capuano was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers (along with Craig Counsell, Lyle Overbay, Junior Spivey, Jorge de la Rosa and Chad Moeller) for Shane Nance, Richie Sexson and minor leaguer Noochie Varner.

He made 17 starts for the Brewers in 2004 and was 6–8 with a 4.99 ERA.

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.

On August 26, pitching against the Atlanta Braves, he threw his first complete game shutout since 2005, setting a career high in strikeouts in a game with 13.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees, and was an All Star in 2006.

Capuano graduated from St. Thomas School in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Four years later, Capuano was the valedictorian of his class at Cathedral High School in Springfield, Massachusetts and went on to earn a degree in Economics at Duke University, where he earned membership in Phi Beta Kappa.

He was also a member of the Xi chapter of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

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.

Capuano, however, ended up with only 11 wins in 2006.

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.

This snapped the streak of 26 straight losses he had appeared in between 2007 and 2010.

He held the Pittsburgh Pirates to one run on three hits over five innings on July 19 to get his first win since 2007.

Before the start of the 2008 season, he underwent Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career and missed the entire season.

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.

He was ultimately limited to just a handful of games in the Brewers rookie leagues as part of his rehab.

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.

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.

He would start the regular season with the Single A, Brevard County Manatees of the Florida State League.

Capuano would only need 3 appearances with the Manatees before being promoted to the Triple A Nashville Sounds.

In those 3 appearances, Capuano registered a 2–0 record with a 1.23 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 14 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.

Capuano started the Brewers' June 3, 2010 game against the Florida Marlins in Miami, giving up three runs on seven hits in 3 innings while striking out four and walking one.

He was charged with the loss in the 3–2 Marlins win.

On July 3, he appeared in a Brewers victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis.

Capuano signed with the New York Mets before the 2011 season.

He made 31 starts for the Mets in 2011, his most since 2006, and also appeared in relief twice.