Can Matt Capps make a comeback with the Diamondbacks?

Former All-Star closer Matt Capps is going through Diamondbacks camp as a spring invitee looking to make a longshot comeback. He has pitched in just one game so far, earning a save in a scoreless inning last Monday.

Capps was one of the best relief pitchers in baseball from 2006-2010, holding a 3.36 ERA and saving 109 games. His best season came in 2010, when he was named to the All-Star team and had a 2.47 ERA and 42 saves in 74 games with the Nationals and the Twins.

After this, however, Capps’ career flamed out. He had a 4.25 ERA in 2011 and suffered a rotator cuff injury in June of 2012 that allowed him to pitch only three more times that season. He has not pitched in the majors since.

He has attempted comebacks on minor league contracts with the Indians in 2013 and with the Braves last year. He pitched in six Triple-A games in 2013 and four rookie ball games in 2014 before shoulder injuries ultimately ended his seasons. He was unable to come anywhere close to his 2010 prime.

This year, he is once more attempting a comeback with the Diamondbacks. This could be his last chance to make a major league roster through spring training. After this he may have to go the independent ball or foreign league route.

If Capps could come back, it would be one of the most monumental feel-good stories of the spring. Shoulder injuries have ended the careers of Mark Prior, Mark Mulder and Johan Santana in the past, so the odds of a comeback from this are quite small. This would also be great for the Diamondbacks, who would gain another option to their already stellar bullpen.

However, given the fact that he has only pitched in one game this spring and has not played in the majors in four years leads to just very slim chances for Capps to make a comeback.