Skip to main content

2017 Phillies Prospect Countdown: #18 RHP Ricardo Pinto

Ricardo Pinto, image- Jay Floyd
With a couple considerable nods of recognition over the past couple of seasons, right-handed hurler Ricardo Pinto has proven to be a prospect on the rise in the Phillies' organization.

Two seasons ago, the Phils honored the native Venezuelan as one of their Paul Owens Award winners, an honor given to the top offensive and pitching performers in the team's developmental ranks each season, and last year Pinto represented the World team in the MLB All-Star Futures Game. 

Signed as an international free agent in December, 2011, Pinto debuted in affiliated pro ball in the Venezuela Summer League the following year. In 15 games (10 starts) he sported a 7-3 record with one save, a 2.74 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.

He repeated the VSL in 2013, posting a 3-5 record with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in 14 games, strictly as a starter.

In 2014, Pinto moved north, pitching with the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters, where he posted a 1-5 record and a 2.11 ERA with 48 strike outs and 15 walks in 47 innings over nine starts as a 20-year-old.

Taking on a full season schedule in 2015, the six-foot 165-pounder opened the campaign with Class A Lakewood, where he tallied a 6-2 record and a 3.09 ERA while striking out 60 and walking 18 in 67 innings over 11 starts. He earned a promotion in mid-June, moving up to Class A Advanced Clearwater. In 13 games with the Threshers, Pinto notched a 9-2 record with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.  Combined at the two levels, he posted a 6.5 K/9 mark.


Last season, Pinto took another step, becoming a key part of a solid rotation for Double-A Reading.  In 27 games (25 starts) he tallied a 7-6 record with a 4.10 ERA, a .253 batting average against and a 5.8 K/9 mark.

This off-season with La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League, Pinto appeared in eight contests in a relief role.  Over 14 innings of work, he posted a 2-0 record with a 3.86 ERA while striking out 10 and walking four.  The Phillies felt it was important for Pinto to get that experience in a high energy league where winning is critical each and every day.

Talent evaluators tend to place Pinto’s ceiling as a middle-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues. If he can improve his slider to above average status, Pinto could live up to those expectations with ease.

Boasting a mid-90’s fastball and an exceptional change up, Pinto has the beginnings of a very solid repertoire. Phillies director of player development Joe Jordan has touted in the past that Pinto’s is the best change up among the organization’s pitching prospects. Development of a third offering, a breaking pitch, will be the determining factor of the type of progress he’ll see.  He's worked mostly with a slider through his career, but began working with a curve ball more frequently last year.  That was something he needed to develop more consistency with and give the opposition another weapon to worry about.

The Phils organization likes the way the 23-year-old competes, describing his approach as business-like. He attacks the opposition and appears daring, maintaining outstanding composure with a top-notch work ethic.

Physically, he may not project to add much to his frame, but that shouldn’t prevent him from refining his standout offerings to climb the ladder.

I would expect Pinto to open the 2017 campaign back in Double-A, but if he mounts success in the Eastern League, where he helped Reading reach the post-season last year, it is likely he'll see some time in Triple-A before too long.

You can follow along with this year’s Phillies prospects countdown by clicking this link.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Prospect Nation 2012: #1 RHP Trevor May

With a massively impressive campaign in 2011 for the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, right-handed starting pitcher Trevor May locked down his spot as Philadelphia's top prospect and is on the fast track toward the big leagues. He is the reigning Paul Owens Award winner, given to the top pitcher and player in the Phillies' developmental system each year. In 27 starts with the Threshers in 2011, May posted a 10-8 record with a 3.63 ERA, while striking out a Florida State League leading 208 batters in 151 1/3 innings. He also held opposing hitters to a .221 average. The Phillies' 4th round draft pick from 2008, May earned the win in the 50th annual Florida State League All-Star Game at Bright House Field last year. He also was twice named FSL Pitcher of the Week and earned Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors for June. After signing with Philadelphia, May helped lead the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies to a championship in 2008. In 5 regular

World Series Preview: Phillies vs. Astros

The Fall Classic is set to get underway on Friday with the Phillies opening on the road to take on the Astros in a best-of-seven series. This year marks 75 years since the first time a World Series was televised and this year each game will be broadcast on the FOX television network.  ESPN will have the radio broadcast and that feed can be streamed by using this link . Game 1 Friday, 8:03pm Eastern....in Houston.  RHP Aaron Nola (11-13, 3.25 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (18-4, 1.75 ERA).  In 16 road starts during the regular season this year, Nola notched a 5-9 record with a 3.00 ERA.  Nola has struck out 18 and walked three in 17 1/3 innings pitched this postseason.  Earlier this month, Nola tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings at Houston.  In 15 home starts during the regular season, Verlander sported a 10-1 record with a 1.64 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP.  Verlander has a 5.68 ERA and has not recorded a win in seven career World Series starts.  Verlander has 11 starts allowing one run or fewer in

PhoulBallz Interview: RHP Ben Brown talks TJ recovery, O'Hoppe, cancelled season

Image- MiLB.com Out of action since last May when it was determined he required Tommy John surgery, righty pitching prospect Ben Brown is using the downtime of the pandemic hiatus to continue his physical recovery.  A 33rd round draft selection of the Phillies back in 2017, Brown made his professional debut that same year, posting a 2.57 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP in 10 appearances in the rookie level Gulf Coast League.  The following season, Brown began to make a name for himself in the GCL, striking out 16 batters in one July appearance.  He would post a 3.12 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 10 games (eight starts) before earning a promotion and finishing the season with a pair of outings with Class A short-season Williamsport. Brown, a Long Island, NY native, opened last year with Class A Lakewood.  In four appearances with the BlueClaws, he struck out 20, walked four and allowed no runs in 13 2/3 innings and looked well on his way to making an impact on betting odds and available promo codes