The Philadelphia Phillies have inked a contract with right-handed pitcher Ricardo Pinto, as reported by Oscar Budejan (X link). This agreement includes an invitation for Pinto to participate in the team’s major league Spring Training.
Pinto, who is now 30 years old, embarked on his professional career with the Phillies organization back in 2012. He eventually made his debut in the major leagues for the club during the 2017 season. Unfortunately, Pinto’s initial stint in the big leagues did not go as planned, as he struggled with a disappointing 7.89 ERA in 29 2/3 innings pitched. He struck out only 17% of batters faced while walking 11.6%. Prior to the start of the 2018 season, Pinto was traded to the Chicago White Sox, but he did not make any appearances at the major league level for the team.
Afterwards, Pinto found a new opportunity with the Tampa Bay Rays and returned to the major leagues towards the end of the 2019 season. Before his call-up, he had posted a respectable 4.13 ERA in 104 2/3 innings of work for the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate. However, Pinto struggled in his brief stint with Tampa Bay, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks in just 2 1/3 innings before being designated for assignment. Following a short period in the San Francisco Giants organization, Pinto decided to play overseas in the Korea Baseball Organization during the 2020 season. In the KBO, he was given the opportunity to start games for the first time since 2016, when he was still playing at the Double-A level. Despite his struggles, as evidenced by a 6.17 ERA in 30 starts, Pinto managed to secure a spot in the Detroit Tigers organization.
Initially used as a starter by the Tigers, Pinto recorded a 4.29 ERA over 123 2/3 innings pitched, split between the Double-A and Triple-A levels. However, in his second season with the Tigers, he transitioned back to a relief role. During the 2022 campaign, Pinto performed admirably out of the bullpen in Triple-A, boasting a 3.58 ERA and an impressive 27.7% strikeout rate across 32 1/3 innings in 20 appearances. Although this is his most recent experience in the United States, Pinto has since played in Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League, the Mexican League, and the Venezuelan Winter League.
By returning to affiliated baseball, Pinto joins a Phillies organization that already appears to have a well-established bullpen heading into Spring Training. Nonetheless, Pinto will have the opportunity to prove himself during camp, alongside other non-roster invitees like Ryan Burr and Nick Snyder, as well as existing depth options on the team’s 40-man roster, such as Michael Rucker and Kaleb Ort. In the event of an injury or if they manage to outperform a pitcher like Connor Brogdon during Spring Training, any of these arms could potentially secure a spot on the Opening Day roster.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com