Josmil Pinto

Josmil Oswaldo Pinto (born March 31, 1989) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball catcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers.

Josmil Pinto
Pinto playing for the Minnesota Twins in 2013
Catcher / Designated hitter
Born: (1989-03-31) March 31, 1989
Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 2013, for the Minnesota Twins
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 2016, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average.252
Home runs11
Runs batted in30
Teams

Career

Minnesota Twins

Pinto signed as an international free agent with the Minnesota Twins in 2006.[1] After the 2012 season, the Twins added Pinto to their 40 man roster in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[2] Beginning the 2013 season with the New Britain Rock Cats of the Class AA Eastern League, Pinto was named an Eastern League All-Star.[3] He was promoted to the Rochester Red Wings of the Class AAA International League in August.[1][4] Pinto had a combined .309 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, and .482 slugging percentage with 15 home runs and 74 runs batted in (RBIs) in 126 games for New Britain and Rochester.[5]

Pinto batting for the New Britain Rock Cats in 2013

On August 31, the Twins promoted Pinto to the major leagues.[6] In 21 games for the Twins, Pinto had a .342 batting average, .398 on-base percentage, and a .566 slugging percentage. He hit four home runs, five doubles, and recorded 12 RBIs.[5]

During spring training in 2014, the Twins named Pinto to their Opening Day roster as the backup to Kurt Suzuki.[5] He spent a lot of time as the designated hitter due to the absence of Josh Willingham from the lineup. He was hitting just .246 with 5 HR and 9 RBI through April, and those struggles continued into May, contributing to less playing time. Pinto was eventually optioned to Rochester on June 12.[7] In 43 games to that point, he was hitting .222 with 7 HR, 16 RBI and a .730 OPS. He also allowed all 20 runners who attempted to steal a base on him to do so due to poor arm strength and lazy catching skills.

Milwaukee Brewers

After the 2015 season, the San Diego Padres claimed Pinto off of waivers.[8] He was designated for assignment on December 21.[9] After being designated by the Padres, Pinto was claimed by the Milwaukee Brewers on December 23.[10] The Brewers designated him for assignment on January 6, 2016.[11]

Pinto playing for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in 2016

Pinto spent the 2016 season with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. The Brewers promoted Pinto to the major leagues on September 20.[12] On November 9, he was outrighted to the minors.[13]

San Francisco Giants

In December 2016, Pinto signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.[14] He was released on October 25, 2017.

See also

References
  1. Neal III, La Velle E. (August 3, 2013). "Twins like what they see in Pinto behind the plate". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  2. "Twins add eight players to Major League roster". MLB.com. November 20, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  3. "Rock Cats: Rock Cats' All-Star catcher, Josmil Pinto, working to improve his all-around game". Hartford Courant. July 8, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  4. "Josh Willingham, others shuffle among rehab assignments". Star Tribune. August 2, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  5. "Prospect Pinto makes Twins as backup catcher". Minnesota Twins. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  6. "Twins recall Josmil Pinto from Triple-A Rochester | twinsbaseball.com: News". MLB.com. August 31, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  7. Berardino, Mike (June 11, 2014). "Twins send rookie catcher Josmil Pinto to Triple-A Rochester". Pioneer Press.
  8. Pioneer Press (November 20, 2015). "Twins add seven to 40-man, lose Josmil Pinto, A.J. Achter". TwinCities.com. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  9. Padres press release (December 21, 2015). "Padres sign LHP Buddy Baumann to one-year contract for 2016 season". mlb.com.
  10. Fox Sports. "Brewers claim Nieuwenhuis, Pinto, Wilkins off waivers". FOX Sports. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  11. Haudricourt, Tom (January 6, 2016). "Brewers sign veteran first baseman". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  13. Todd, Jeff (November 9, 2016). "Minor MLB Transactions: 11/9/16". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  14. Eddy, Matt (December 24, 2016). "Minor League Transactions: Dec. 10–22". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
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