By STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Miami Marlins reliever Carter Capps has a torn ligament in his throwing elbow that requires Tommy John surgery and will sideline him for the entire season.

Miami announced the diagnosis Tuesday, and the operation was to be performed later in the day by specialist Dr. James Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Capps is expected to return by opening day 2017.

The hard-throwing right-hander cut short a throwing session and underwent an MRI last week after his troublesome elbow again flared up. He missed the final two months of last season because of elbow soreness and sat out three months in 2014 for the same reason.

Miami had expected Capps to challenge incumbent A.J. Ramos for the closer’s job.

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