(Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
According to his Major League Baseball profile, the Philadelphia Phillies designated Venezuelan right-handed pitcher Ricardo Pinto for assignment on April 28.
The move opened up a spot for starting pitcher Taijuan Walker to return from the 15-day injured list and be placed on the roster.
Pinto, 30, was born in Guacara, Venezuela, and has played two seasons in Major League Baseball with the Phillies in 2017 and the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019.
The Phillies selected his contract from Triple-A Lehigh on April 2.
He made his 2024 debut on April 2 at home against the Cincinnati Reds and recorded a save while throwing four innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, and striking out four.
Before being designated for assignment, Pinto appeared in six games out of the bullpen, posted a 10.97 ERA, and recorded one save, throwing 10.2 innings, allowing 19 hits, 13 earned runs, two home runs, five walks, and eight strikeouts.
During spring training, Pinto appeared in four games out of the bullpen and posted a 1-0 record with a 3.18 ERA, throwing 5.2 innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs, three walks, and three strikeouts.
The right-handed pitcher played with the Tiburones de La Guaira during the 2023-24 Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional regular season in 10 appearances and eight starts, throwing 45 innings, posting a 4.00 ERA with a 1-2 record and one save. He allowed 51 hits, 20 earned runs, two home runs, 16 walks, 33 strikeouts, and a 1.489 WHIP before signing a minor league deal on February 19 with the Phillies, including an invite to big league camp.
Pinto helped Tiburones de La Guaira win their first Caribbean Series championship in Miami at loanDepot Park and started the championship game against the 2023-24 LIDOM champion Tigres del Licey and shut their offense down, winning 3-0. Pinto started two games in the Caribbean Series and posted a 1-0 record with a 0.84 ERA, throwing 10.2 innings, allowing 10 hits, one earned run, three walks, and 14 strikeouts.
Pinto was named MVP of the 2024 Caribbean Series.
Pinto has played five seasons in Mexico, Taiwan, Venezuela, and in 2020 with the SK Wyverns of the Korean Baseball Organization. In his five seasons overseas, Pinto has posted a 17-25 record with a 5.11 ERA, throwing 364.2 innings in 84 appearances and 64 starts, allowing 436 hits, 207 earned runs, 37 home runs, 156 walks, 261 strikeouts, and a 1.623 WHIP.
During his three seasons in the MLB, Pinto has a 1-2 record with a lifetime 9.07 ERA in 33 appearances out of the bullpen. He recorded one save, threw 42.2 innings, and allowed 62 hits, 43 earned runs, 10 home runs, 24 walks, 33 strikeouts, and had a 2.016 WHIP.
