Coaches tinkering with Capps' delivery

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Polishing up Carter Capps' delivery is a work in progress.

The hard-throwing right-hander, acquired from the Mariners for Logan Morrison, has had mixed reviews in his first few Grapefruit League outings.

Not being a finished product at this point was expected, especially since the 23-year-old has been tinkering with his delivery with pitching coach Chuck Hernandez and bullpen coach Reid Cornelius.

"I'm trying to get a little more use out of my legs, like I used to pitch," Capps said. "When I went to Seattle, I changed some things around. I'm trying to get back to pitching the way I used to pitch."

One of the adjustments is with his left leg making a slight turn towards second base.

"He's got a funky little delivery," manager Mike Redmond said. "I know Chuck and Reid have gone back and looked at a bunch of video of him over the last year or so. They're trying to get him back to what he was when he first came into the league.

"He's made a few adjustments with his delivery. He's mixed in a little turn, hopefully that gives him a little more time for that arm to catch up."

Capps has a power arm, ramping his fastball to the upper 90s. On Wednesday against the Braves, he threw two shutout innings. He got off to a wild start, issuing a walk, with a couple of pitches way out of the zone.

He brought in a 95-mph fastball, but it was a ball. In the zone he was mostly at 92 mph.

"I know he was a little wild those first couple of pitches, but he was able to bring it back and he threw some really nice breaking balls in his second inning," Redmond said. "I think it was a great sign, and something hopefully he builds off."

In four Grapefruit League outings, the right-hander has logged five innings, and he has a 3.60 ERA. He's struck out five and walked three.

"Pound the fastball in there," Capps said. "I started doing that after the first batter. I got into a little rhythm. I'm trying some new stuff. I'm not going to be picture perfect the first time out. I was happy with how it went, and I was happy with the results."