What happens when a 1-pitch pitcher loses 5 mph off his fastball? For Jose Capellan it meant a step-down from the next Bartolo Colon to the next Edwin Jackson. Capellan, a 24 year old beast out of the Dominican Republic had a wake-up call in 2005. After coming back from Tommy John surgery to post a 14-4, 2.33 ERA, 152:45 K:BB season between A/AA, Capellan bottomed out at AAA Nashville in 2005. His

In 90.2 innings Capellan went 5-3 with 6 saves, a 3.89 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, with 88 hits, and a 42:76 BB:K.

Capellan stands 6′4″, 244. That’s too big to be throwing 92 mph fastballs. After drawing raves with his 100+ mph heater, Jose lost it in his first season with the Brewers. Traded to Milwaukee in the Danny Kolb deal, Capellan was just the latest in a long line of Schuerholz blue-chip castoffs to prove that good starting pitchers are made and molded, not born.

Capellan was clocked in his first major-league stint, giving up 10 earned runs in 8 2004 innings. He was OK as a reliever last year, going for a 2.87 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 15 innings for Milwaukee. He gave up 17 hits, walked 5, and struck out 14.

Capellan throws a fastball and a slider, but it’s his primary pitch is a straight-as-an-arrow 4-seamer. He lost all that velocity as a starter, so it doesn’t look like he’s going back into the rotation this year. However, he is starting for Cibao in the Dominican Winter League. If he doesn’t start striking out a ton of batters he’s going to find himself in the bullpen next year.

If his arm had held up Capellan would have been a good bet to be a Top 20 pitcher in the National League. His fastball was straight, but he’s young enough to develop his command, learn a good second pitch, and maybe even throw a sinker. At 92-94 mph he’s nothing but a 7th or 8th inning reliever. He still has time to develop his repertoire, but if you’re looking for a current comparison player try Toronto’s Jason Frasor. Frason’s fastball’s a little quicker (it wouldn’t be if Jose’s arm held up), but he and Capellan are virtually identical pitchers.

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