Padres' Carter Capps: Could be ready for Opening Day

Capps (elbow) may be available for Opening Day, the Padres' official site reports.

Analysis:

The hard-throwing right-hander had Tommy John surgery on March 8, leaving him approximately 13 months removed from the procedure when the 2017 season begins. Capps has the ability to emerge as an elite closer if he returns to his pre-surgery form, but the Padres may opt to bring him along slowly with respect to the ninth-inning role as Brandon Maurer fared well in the second half of 2016 (13-for-15 in save chances, 3.09 ERA from July 1 on).