How would you feel if you had come back from two Tommy John’s surgeries, worked your way through painful rehab, paid your dues in the minors and made it back to the mound?
Chris Capuano feels what anyone else would feel over being placed into relief. Surprised. Even with the Brewers starting pitching pool stacked, Chris Capuano says reporting for relief duty never crossed his mind.
“No, never did I consider it. When you work and rehab to get back as a starter, you just work hard and focus on that,” says Capuano. “It’s not something I anticipated.”
By: Melissa S. Wollering
Cappy says he sat down with Doug Melvin, Ken Macha and Rick Peterson and discussed how his role as a reliever would benefit the team. Capuano says he is certainly willing to contribute to the best way he can and that his greatest adjustment will be the mentality behind the switch.
“It’s something I’ll prepare for now. I plan to ask advice of the veteran [relievers] on this team and take as much from them as I can to help me prepare.”
Working his way back after two Tommy John’s surgeries, Chris Capuano says he is used to putting in time and effort in the midst of challenges. So does Cappy hope the relief role is temporary?
“In the future, I’d like to get back to being a starter. I worked for years to get where I am today. The things I’ve always been successful with, my command, changing speeds…those are the things that feel good now that I’m back.”