Matt Capps

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**Matt Capps**

Pittsburgh Pirates — No. 55
Relief Pitcher
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
September 16, 2005 for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006 Season)
Record	9-1
Strikeouts	59
ERA	3.83
Innings pitched	84.2

Matthew Dicus Capps (born September 3, 1983 in Douglasville, Georgia) is a baseball relief pitcher who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He possesses a noteworthy change up and a 95 MPH fastball, and has excellent command of both.

Capps was drafted by the Pirates in the 7th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. He was a starting pitcher until 2004, never advancing above A-level in the minor leagues.

In 2005, he was converted to a relief pitcher and his career took off. Though he started the season at A-level Hickory, he was promoted mid-season to the AA Altoona Curve and to the Indianapolis Indians for the International League playoffs. After Indianapolis's season ended, he was promoted to the Pirates on September 16 and made his debut that night.

The beginning of the 2006 season saw Capps break spring training with the Pirates. At first, Capps saw time only in safe situations, but as the season wore on, he established himself as one of the most consistent and effective relievers in the Pittsburgh bullpen, and became one of manager Jim Tracy's go-to guys in relief. Although only a rookie, Capps saw a lot of appearances as the Pirates set-up man to closers Mike Gonzalez and Salomón Torres.

In 85 games during the 2006 season with the Pirates, Capps pitched a total of 80.2 innings, striking out 56 batters, while only allowing 81 hits and 37 runs, for an ERA of 3.79. Capps posted a team best 9-1 record out of the bullpen, while mixing in 13 holds and 1 save. He led all Major League rookie pitchers in appearances.

After the departure of former closer Mike Gonzalez to the Atlanta Braves, there has been speculation that the Pirates will give Capps the opportunity to fill the void for the 2007 and possibly beyond.

Capps is a 2002 graduate of Alexander High School in Douglasville, where he lettered in football, basketball, cross-country and baseball before signing a scholarship with LSU.