He played for two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, pitching for the DSL Braves 1999 and 2000. He recorded a 3-3 3.58 ERA season in '99 and a 3-8 3.69 season in 2001. He allowed just one home run in both seasons.
In 2001 he began the year with the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League. He only pitched 16 innings, but he recorded 25 strikeouts, only allowed one homer in a scant 3 earned runs and just four walks!
He was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his throwing elbow, and subsequently underwent Tommy John Surgery, which forced him to miss the rest of 2001 and all of the 2002 season.
Jose was healthy enough to start the 2003 season, but he again battled the injury bug and pitched only 47 innings between the Rookie-Level Gulf Coast League and the Single-A South Atlantic League.
Still, his performance in ‘03 was strong enough to earn him a spot on the Braves 40-man roster and an invite to Spring Training in 2004.
The Braves initially toyed with the idea of keeping Capellan on the active squad that season to bolster their bullpen, but instead, chose to give him the experience and much-needed innings in the minors. He had never pitched more than a 68 inning season, and that was back in 2000 in the DSL.
Like General Sherman before him, Capellan made a march on Atlanta in 2004, dashing from Greenville in the Southern league through all three levels of the Braves farm system to the major league club, posting a combined 14-4 record and 2.33 earned run average, with 152 strikeouts in 139 innings.
He was named to the MLB Futures Game and his impressive inaugural stint in the Triple-A International League included a 23 consecutive scoreless innings streak.
With nothing left to prove in the minors, Capellan was promoted and started his first MLB game on September 12 at Turner Field against the Expos, where he had a no-decision.
Looking to bring John Smoltz out of the bullpen and into the starting rotation, the Braves wanted closer Brad Kolb from Milwaukee. It cost them Capellan in the deal.
Jose was battling for a spot on Brewers’ staff this spring, but he gave up 14 earned runs in 13 innings and was sent to Triple-A Nashville to start 2005.
He has had a strong showing as a starter in the Pacific Coast League, and has posted a 5-3 record with a 3.87 ERA in 90.2 innings this season.
Scouts and touts worry about Capellan's weight as an issue. His arm is considered strong enough for the starting rotation at this time. There are two camps, one for Capellan the starter, another for Capellan the closer. The current movement on him suggests he may be on the closer track: He was moved exclusively to the bullpen in early June. He went 1-1 with a 1.45 ERA and 6 saves.
The Brewers recalled Capellan from Triple-A Nashville on Aug. 14, 2005. He's only pitched .1 innings thus far so his record is not statistically meaningful. We still think this is another run to Milwaukee for a cup of coffee, unless he proves immediately effective as a closer.
If that works out, he has a great shot to stay up in that role. If not, pop and the well meaning uncles in the Brewers' front office will bring him back to the minors, and figure out in the off season what they want Jose to be when he grows up.
