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

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...

5th spot, Wall, Old timers, Links

The race for the Phillies' fifth starter spot is still on. While it's not fully fair to compare Grapefruit League stats, when some of the pitchers have had "B game" and scrimmage outings mixed in, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco look to be falling behind Chan Ho Park and "Jay" Happ. Happ added to his solid Grapefruit League stats (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 4 games) today against the Rays. Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been displeased with Kendrick even before he surrendered 8 earned runs in 3 innings of work yesterday against the Braves. Park has been working on improving his change up, with (Coach) Jamie Moyer. Park noticed Moyer's location control on his change, so he sought out Moyer to teach him the grip and positioning of the ball. Moyer, of course, feels good about helping anyone on the Phils' staff. Park has been coached by greats like Nolan Ryan with the Rangers and Sandy Koufax with the Dodgers, so Moyer is in great company. Park is working h...