Michael Conner Capel (born May 19, 1997) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds.
Capel attended Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas, and played on their baseball team. As a senior, he hit .456 with 36 runs, 27 doubles and 23 stolen bases. [1] He committed to play college baseball for the Texas Longhorns. [2] He was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the fifth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed with them for $361,300, forgoing his commitment to Texas. [3] [4]
After signing, Capel was assigned to the Rookie-level Arizona League Indians to make his professional debut. During the season, he posted a .210/.270/.290 average with 13 RBIs and ten stolen bases in 35 games. In 2017, he played for the Lake County Captains of the Midwest Single-A League where he hit .246 with 22 home runs, 61 RBIs and a .795 OPS over 119 games. [5] He began the 2018 season with the Lynchburg Hillcats of the High-A Carolina League.
Capel was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals on July 31, 2018, along with Jhon Torres, in exchange for Oscar Mercado. [6] He was assigned to the Palm Beach Cardinals of the High-A Florida State League and finished the season there. In 118 games between Lynchburg and Palm Beach, he hit .257/.341/.376 with seven home runs, 63 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. [7] Capel began the 2019 season with the Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Texas League. [8] In June, he played eight games for the Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. In 106 games between the two teams, Capel hit .248 with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs. [9] After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs. [10]
In July 2020, Capel signed to play for the Texas team of the Constellation Energy League, a makeshift 4-team independent league created in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which caused the leagues’ season to be canceled minor. [11] He hit .200 with one home run and six RBIs in 27 games for Team Texas. [12] For the 2021 season, Capel returned to Memphis, hitting .261/.342/.448 with 14 home runs, 51 RBIs and 17 doubles in 114 games. [13] He returned to Memphis to start the 2022 season. [14]
On June 27, 2022, the Cardinals selected Capel’s contract and promoted him to the major leagues. [15] He made his MLB debut that night in the top of the ninth inning as a defensive replacement against the Miami Marlins. [16] He recorded his first MLB hit on June 29 with a single against Sandy Alcántara of the Miami Marlins. [17] Capel hit his first MLB home run on July 4 against Jesse Chavez of the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. [18] On September 6, Capel was designated for a mission.
On September 9, 2022, Capel was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics. [19] After making his debut with the A’s, Capel became the first player in franchise history to wear number 72. [20]
On September 9, 2022, Capel was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics. [21] After making his debut with the A’s, Capel became the first player in franchise history to wear number 72. [22]
On December 26, 2023, Capel signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. [23] In 31 games with the Triple-A Louisville Bats, he hit .268/.397/.567 with seven home runs, 16 RBIs and six stolen bases. On May 7, 2024, the Reds selected Capel’s contract, adding him to the major league roster. [24] In five games for Cincinnati, he went 2 for 8 (.250). On June 21, Capel was designated for a mission by the Reds. [25] He was exempted from waivers and was sent directly to Louisville on June 23 [26] Capel was released by the Reds organization on August 3. [27]
Capel’s father, Mike Capel, played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros. In 2019, Capel and Kacy Clemens filed a lawsuit against a Houston bar, alleging they were assaulted by a bouncer; they won the case and received $3.24 million. [28]
- ↑ « A confident Conner Capel awaits draft call », Houston Chronicle, June 8, 2016 (accessed February 25, 2018)
- ↑ « Cleveland Indians 2017 top prospects: No. 29, Conner Capel », Fansided, March 2017 (accessed February 25, 2018)
- ↑ « 5th Round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft », Baseball-Reference.com (accessed February 25, 2018)
- ↑ « 2016 Draft: Signing and Bonus Tracker », MLB.com (accessed February 25, 2018)
- ↑ « Conner Capel is Capitalizing on His Major League Heritage | Did the Tribe Win Last Night? »
- ↑ Steve Adams, « Indians Acquire Oscar Mercado From Cardinals », MLB Trade Rumors, July 31, 2018 (accessed August 9, 2018)
- ↑ « Who are the Springfield Cardinals’ best players entering 2019’s opening night? »
- ↑ « Cardinals announce 2019 Opening Day Roster | Cardinals », Milb.com, April 4, 2019 (accessed May 4, 2021)
- ↑ « Cardinals Arizona Fall League updates », Mlb.com (accessed May 4, 2021)
- ↑ « Arizona Fall League Door Opened for Conner Capel », October 20, 2019
- ↑ Adam Coleman, « In Sugar Land, baseball season starts Friday », Houstonchronicle.com, July 7, 2020 (accessed May 4, 2021)
- ↑ « Conner Capel minor league baseball statistics on StatsCrew.com »
- ↑ « Opening Day Roster | Redbirds », Milb.com, April 30, 2021 (accessed May 4, 2021)
- ↑ memphisredbirds, « Our 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐲 roster: Over 1/3 of the top 30 @Cardinals prospects this season. We’re a big deal. », on Twitter, April 5, 2022
- ↑ « Cardinals announce series of roster moves; Jack Flaherty & Harrison Bader placed on injured list; rookie & Missouri native James Naile & rookie Conner Capel promoted from Triple-A Memphis », MLB.com
- ↑ « Two Yepez HRS, Goldschmidt 4 for 4, Cards top Marlins 9-0 » [archive du 28 juin 2022]Star Tribune (accessed June 28, 2022)
- ↑ « Avisail Garcia, Sandy Alcantara play heroes for Marlins in thrilling win », Reuters, June 30, 2022
- ↑ (en) Associated Press, « Swanson’s 3-run double helps Braves outlast Cardinals, 6-3 », ESPN.com, July 4, 2022 (read online)
- ↑ Anthony Franco, « A’s Claim Conner Capel, Designate Luis Barrera », MLB Trade Rumors, September 9, 2022 (accessed September 9, 2022)
- ↑ (in) ” Conner Capel makes Oakland A’s history by taking field », whitecleatbeat.com, January 13, 2022 (accessed June 21, 2023)
- ↑ Anthony Franco, « A’s Claim Conner Capel, Designate Luis Barrera », MLB Trade Rumors, September 9, 2022 (accessed September 9, 2022)
- ↑ (in) ” Conner Capel makes Oakland A’s history by taking field », whitecleatbeat.com, January 13, 2022 (accessed June 21, 2023)
- ↑ « Reds Sign Conner Capel to Minor League Deal », December 26, 2023
- ↑ (in) ” Reds Select Conner Capel », mlbtraderumors.com, May 7, 2024 (accessed May 7, 2024)
- ↑ (in) ” Reds Designate Conner Capel For Assignment », mlbtraderumors.com, June 21, 2024 (accessed June 21, 2024)
- ↑ (in) ” Reds Outright Conner Capel », mlbtraderumors.com, June 23, 2024 (accessed June 24, 2024)
- ↑ « Transactions »
- ↑ « Roger Clemens’ son, godson win $3.24 million in bar fight lawsuit », February 7, 2021
2024-11-03 20:42:00