Balky elbow sends Capps to DL
Ellington called up, makes MLB debut vs. Mets
MIAMI -- The Marlins placed right-handed reliever Carter Capps on the 15-day disabled list prior to Monday's contest and, in turn, selected the contract of right-hander Brian Ellington from Triple-A New Orleans.
Capps -- who exited Sunday's 5-2 win vs. the Padres at Marlins Park with right elbow stiffness after coming on in the eighth inning and throwing 13 pitches -- had an MRI on Monday morning. He called the DL stint "more precautionary," adding that his arm "feels great" and he has "full range of motion."
"It's good news," Capps said before Monday night's series opener against the Mets. "Unfortunately, I have to go on the DL so we can get some other pitchers up here. But it's a great opportunity for other guys."
Capps estimated that he'll take the next 2-3 days off from any throwing.
"Hopefully for Carter, it will be the minimum 15 days and he'll be back," manager Dan Jennings said.
The hard-throwing 24-year-old is having a breakout season. After being recalled from New Orleans on May 19, Capps seized the setup role in Miami's bullpen, going 1-0 with a 1.16 ERA in 31 innings this season. He has struck out 58 and walked seven.
Capps experienced right elbow issues in 2014 as well, as a sprained right elbow sent him to the 60-day DL and caused him to miss almost three months. However, he assured that Sunday's elbow issues were not similar or as serious.
"It was just a different type of pain," Capps said. "I'm pretty excited it's not more serious than it is."
With Capps' absence for at least the next two weeks, Jennings said lefty Mike Dunn and righty Bryan Morris will handle the setup duties. He added that A.J. Ramos -- who took the loss on Friday and blew the save opportunity on Sunday -- will remain in the closer role, while the younger relievers will now get their opportunities "to bridge the gap from the starter to the eighth inning."
One of those relievers is Ellington, 24, who was the Marlins' 2012 16th-round Draft pick out of West Florida. He was just recently promoted to New Orleans -- making one appearance and tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings. The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder has done most of his work this season for Double-A Jacksonville, going 4-1 with a 2.51 ERA in 43 innings. Ellington made his Major League debut in Monday's 12-1 loss to the Mets, striking out two in a scoreless inning of relief.
Video: NYM@MIA: Ellington strikes out Conforto in debut
"He really started to turn the corner last year in the Arizona Fall League," Jennings said. "The reports we got on him from this year have been real well, with a mid-to-upper 90s fastball and really just throwing the ball extremely well."