The Reds released Capel on Aug. 3.
Capel had previously logged eight plate appearances over five games at the big-league level in May with the Reds before he was designated for assignment June 21. He ultimately cleared waivers and stuck around in the organization for another month before the Reds elected to move on from the 27-year-old outfielder. Capel slashed .215/.345/.429 with 12 home runs and nine stolen bases over 74 games with Triple-A Louisville.
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Reds' Conner Capel: Outrighted to Louisville
Rotowire
Capel cleared waivers Sunday and accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Louisville, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Capel was booted off Cincinnati's 40-man roster Friday, and he will officially remain with the organization rather than deciding to test his luck in free agency. The 27-year-old outfielder is slashing .221/.365/.435 with 21 RBI through 192 plate appearances in Triple-A this season and may rejoin the Reds later in the summer if outfield depth becomes a problem for the big-league club.
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Reds' Conner Capel: DFA'd by Reds
Rotowire
Capel was designated for assignment Friday.
Capel went 2-for-8 in five games with the Reds this season, but his demotion will free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Austin Wynns. Assuming Capel clears waivers, expect him to stick around in Cincinnati's system.
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Reds' Conner Capel: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Reds optioned Capel to Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
Capel was up with the big club for two weeks but accrued just eight plate appearances. He's being replaced on the roster by Nick Martini.
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Reds' Conner Capel: Makes third straight start
Rotowire
Capel started in left field and went 1-for-2 in Thursday's 7-2 win over the Dodgers.
Capel made a third consecutive start -- all against right-handers -- and was eventually lifted for a pinch hitter against a lefty reliever. He's 2-for-8 with a stolen base and a run scored over five appearances since having his contract selected May 7. His opportunities have increased lately due to injuries to TJ Friedl (thumb), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) and Jonathan India (migraines).
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Reds' Conner Capel: Contract selected
Rotowire
Capel's contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
Capel will replace Bubba Thompson -- who was optioned to Double-A Chattanooga -- on the Reds' roster. In 31 appearances at Louisville, Capel slashed .268/.397/.567 with seven homers and six stolen bases.
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Reds' Conner Capel: Sent to minor-league camp
Rotowire
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: 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: 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: 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.
