The Reds reassigned Capel to minor-league camp Wednesday.
Capel logged 86 plate appearances at the big-league level with the Athletics in 2023, but he stood little chance of making the Reds' Opening Day roster in light of the organization's ample outfield depth. The 26-year-old is expected to head to Triple-A Louisville to begin the upcoming season.
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Reds' Conner Capel: Inks minors deal with Cincinnati
Rotowire
The Reds signed Capel to a minor-league contract Tuesday with an invitation to major-league spring training.
Capel spent the majority of the 2023 season with the Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics, slashing .252/.346/.402 with nine home runs and 17 stolen bases over 92 games in the Pacific Coast League. The 26-year-old outfielder has appeared in 54 career big-league games between the Cardinals and A's.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Sent outright to Triple-A
Rotowire
Oakland outrighted Capel to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, Melissa Lockard of The Athletic reports.
Capel made the Opening Day roster out of camp this spring, but he has spent the majority of this season with Las Vegas and is slashing .212/.316/.349 over his last 76 plate appearances in the Pacific Coast League. Oakland claimed him off waivers from the Cardinals last September.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Capel was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Capel has been one of the Athletics' better hitters this season, especially from an on-base percentage perspective with a .372 mark. He nonetheless finds himself back in the minors, at least for a while.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Called up Friday
Rotowire
Capel was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.
Capel will return to the big leagues after he was sent down May 3. He'll help fill in for Ramon Laureano (hand), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday. Capel has produced a .297 batting average with three homers, 21 RBI, 22 runs scored and eight stolen bases over 37 games with Las Vegas.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Raking with Aviators
Rotowire
Capel owns a .303/.370/.451 slash line with 10 extra-base hits and 19 RBI across 135 plate appearances with Triple-A Las Vegas since being optioned May 3.
Capel was holding his own at the big-league level with a .258 average and .347 on-base percentage over 75 plate appearances in the Athletics' first 26 games, but he was a victim of the team's desire to give JJ Bleday a look against major-league arms. Capel's ongoing success with the Aviators is of little surprise considering the hitter-friendly environment of many Pacific Coast League parks, as well as the 26-year-old's own track record at the highest levels of the minors dating back to his time in the Cardinals' organization. With Bleday offering mixed results in the majors thus far -- he's generated a .214/.319/.398 slash line across 113 plate appearances -- it's possible Capel sees a promotion sometime this summer.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Athletics optioned Capel to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Capel appeared in 26 games with the Athletics and slashed .258/.347/.318 over 75 plate appearances with no homers along with four stolen bases in seven attempts. The outfielder has been sent down to make room for JJ Bleday with Bleday recalled from Las Vegas in the corresponding move.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Reaches three times in loss
Rotowire
Capel went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run in a loss to the Mets on Friday.
The 25-year-old was busy while churning out his second multi-hit effort of the season. Capel has made just five starts thus far, but he's managed to reach safely in each on his way to an early .292 average through his first 27 plate appearances.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: On bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Capel is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
Capel had started the last three games after Seth Brown (oblique) was placed on the injured list, but he'll cede left field to Tony Kemp in the series finale. In those three starts, Capel went 2-for-11 with a double and a stolen base.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Gets second straight start
Rotowire
Capel will start in left field and bat seventh in Monday's game in Baltimore.
Capel will stick in the lineup for the second game in a row after going 0-for-2 with a walk in Sunday's 11-0 loss to the Rays. With Oakland moving Seth Brown (oblique) to the 10-day injured list Monday, the lefty-hitting Capel could have relatively clear path to a strong-side platoon role in the corner outfield for at least the next week and a half.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Swipes two bags as pinch runner
Rotowire
Capel appeared as a pinch runner in Wednesday's extra-inning loss to the Guardians, stealing two bags.
Capel ran for Shea Langeliers after the catcher reached on a single in the ninth inning with the score tied 4-4. Capel managed to reach third base with a pair of thefts, but Oakland was unable to bring him home. Capel stole 21 bases in the minors in 2022, so he has speed to burn. However, he's not an everyday player for Oakland, so his fantasy appeal is marginal.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Remains out of lineup
Rotowire
Capel is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Guardians.
Capel will remain on the bench for a second straight game Wednesday. Seth Brown will slide over to left field while Ryan Noda enters the lineup at first base, batting seventh in Wednesday's series finale.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Takes seat Monday
Rotowire
Capel is out of the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Guardians, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Capel went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Monday's game against Cleveland, but he'll begin this contest on the bench. Seth Brown, Esteury Ruiz and Ramon Laureano make up the outfield while Jesus Aguilar is back in the lineup as the designated hitter.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Secures roster spot
Rotowire
Manager Mark Kotsay announced Monday that Capel has made the Athletics' Opening Day roster, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Capel played well down the stretch for Oakland last season, and he nabbed a spot on the Opening Day roster after he posted an .884 OPS across 20 spring training games. It appears the 25-year-old will begin the season as the club's primary left fielder against right-handed pitching, with Brent Rooker likely to fill the short side of the platoon.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Making solid case for spot
Rotowire
Capel is hitting .280 (7-for-25) with two doubles, two home runs, four RBI, five walks, two stolen bases and six runs across 10 Cactus League games.
Capel has also struck out a modest four times across 29 plate appearances after posting an impressively low 16.9 percent strikeout rate over his first 59 big-league PAs last season with the Cardinals and Athletics. Capel produced an impressive .308 average and .875 OPS over that span as well, and Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports the lefty-swinging 25-year-old is serving as formidable competition to another impressive young bat in Brent Rooker for a reserve outfield spot. "In terms of roster construction, we're still ahead of the game in terms of making that decision," manager Mark Kotsay said. "That's an area we're definitely focused on. I think there's more than just those two in that mix. But, obviously, they're making a really good impression right now."
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Notches first career steal
Rotowire
Capel went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly, a stolen base and a run in a win over the Angels on Wednesday.
The rookie recorded one of only four hits for the Athletics on the afternoon and was busy otherwise, opening the scoring by driving in Stephen Vogt with a fifth-inning sac fly. Capel's brief big-league stint with the A's after being claimed off waivers from the Cardinals was impressive, as he delivered a .371 average, 1.025 OPS and struck out at an acceptable 20.0 percent clip over 40 plate appearances following a Sept. 20 promotion from Triple-A Las Vegas.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Remains on bench Monday
Rotowire
Capel isn't starting Monday against the Angels.
Capel is on the bench for a second consecutive game since left-hander Patrick Sandoval is starting for the Angels on Monday. Chad Pinder will start in right field and bat cleanup.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Capel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
Capel started the past four games and will take a seat after he went 2-for-10 with a walk, an RBI and five strikeouts during that span. Chad Pinder will start in right field and bat third Sunday.
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Athletics' Conner Capel: Continues on tear Sunday
Rotowire
Capel went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in a loss to the Mets on Sunday.
The rookie provided a big blast in the ninth inning to make the final score a tad more palatable after the Athletics entered the frame trailing 13-1. Capel has now hit safely in all five games he's played during his current big-league stint, and he finished with seven RBI over the two weekend games of the interleague series thanks to also having driven in four runs with a triple and home run Saturday.
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Cardinals' Conner Capel: Pushed off 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Cardinals designated Capel for assignment Wednesday.
St. Louis opted to swap Capel off its 40-man roster for a more heralded outfield prospect in Alec Burleson, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. Capel, who made a nine-game cameo with the big club earlier this summer, is hitting .258/.361/.425 in 377 plate appearances at Triple-A in 2022.
