Ricardo Pinto (baseball)


Ricardo Antonio Pinto Valera is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the SK Wyverns of the KBO League. He previously played in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays.

Career

Philadelphia Phillies

Pinto signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an international free agent in December 2011. He made his professional debut with the Venezuelan Summer League Phillies in 2012 and also played with them in 2013. In 2014, he played for the Williamsport Crosscutters. Pinto spent 2015 with the Lakewood BlueClaws and Clearwater Threshers. He won the Paul Owens Award as the Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 15–4 with a 2.97 earned run average and 105 strikeouts. The Phillies added him to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season.
Pinto started the 2017 season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, and was called up to Phillies on May 31, making his MLB debut the same day. In his debut against the Miami Marlins, Pinto pitched two innings in relief, allowing four runs on six hits along with three walks and a home run, and struck out two. On March 25, 2018, the Phillies designated Pinto for assignment.

Chicago White Sox

On March 28, 2018, Pinto was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for international signing bonus pool money. He was designated for assignment on May 28, 2018. He cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Class AAA Charlotte Knights. Pinto elected free agency on November 2, 2018.

Tampa Bay Rays

On January 28, 2019, Pinto signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. On August 30, the Rays selected Pinto's contract.

San Francisco Giants

On September 6, 2019, the San Francisco Giants claimed Pinto off waivers from the Rays. Pinto was designated for assignment on November 5.

SK Wyverns

Pinto was released by the Giants on November 12, so he could sign with the SK Wyverns of the KBO League.