Capra (6 RBI) makes statement with walk-off blast
Adam McCalvy
@AdamMcCalvyPHOENIX -- Vinny Capra is a 28-year-old former 20th-round Draft pick who is out of Minor League options going into his ninth year of professional baseball. He¡¯s an infielder who plays all over the diamond and is far more known for his defense than his power. Players like him dot camps across baseball, waiting to prove that anything is possible with an opportunity.
It¡¯s only Spring Training, only the first game, but Capra succeeded in making an impression Saturday by belting a pair of three-run home runs in the Brewers¡¯ 8-7 win over a split-squad Reds club at American Family Fields of Phoenix. His sixth-inning shot started a comeback from a 5-0 deficit, and his walk-off winner came two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
¡°The process is the big part of it,¡± said Capra, who played in three games last season for the Brewers and stuck on their 40-man roster all winter. ¡°Coming in here today, I was just focused on the process. I didn¡¯t have the greatest BP, so I just said I was going to go into the game and do what I can, focus on the ball, focus on the pitcher and focus on approach.¡±
Capra came to the Brewers via waivers in November 2023 and spent most of last season at Triple-A Nashville, where he posted a .348 on-base percentage and started at least 25 games at each of second base, third base and shortstop.
He¡¯s on a long list of infielders in the mix for the Brewers this spring as they decide how to replace shortstop Willy Adames, who departed via free agency for the Giants. If Joey Ortiz slides over to shortstop as expected, it would open the possibility of a platoon situation at third among candidates like Oliver Dunn, Andruw Monasterio, Caleb Durbin, Tyler Black and Capra. They¡¯re all on the 40-man roster.
Some of them will start the year in the Minors. Others will get a shot in the big leagues.
¡°The league is full of those guys, and they¡¯re in a tough spot because they go up and down,¡± Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. ¡°We have [Capra] on our roster for a reason, because we believe he can compete in the Major League roster when we have that need. He proved a lot today, for sure.¡±
Capra will stay patient and wait for his chance.
¡°Sometimes patience isn¡¯t my strong suit, but that¡¯s part of learning and getting older, knowing that patience is a key part of life in general,¡± he said. ¡°The game teaches you a lot.¡±