Pinto, while still young, is a very projectable right-handed power arm who has a future as a late-inning set-up man thanks to his big fastball and developing secondaries. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Venezuela in 2014, He looks to be playing about 10 pounds above his listed weight and has a strong, compact frame. I was able to view a one-inning relief appearance on June 28 where he did not allow a hit, and struck out one batter.

Pinto works from the stretch, and has a quick arm action. He is a long-armer with a full arm circle, and he is able to get some good angle despite his size by delivering from a high-3/4’s slot. The fastball is a weapon, sitting at 95-to-97 mph with most readings at 96 mph, and he’s able to bore it into righties with late life and ride and plus movement. His command is average, and he’s comfortable pitching to both sides of the plate with the offering. His curveball is presently his best secondary, showing depth and spin with good feel, and it projects to be an above-average pitch with developing two-plane depth, and more of a slider quality to it. He does throw a changeup, and he showed some feel for it in warmups, but it was not used in-game.

His potential will be closely tied to his refinement of the secondary offerings to play up the double-plus fastball, as well as reigning in the overall control profile, which is improving with experience and growing confidence working in-zone. He’s still thrown just 55 2/3 pro innings, but his walk rate is dropping (9.1 BB/9 2015, 3.80 BB/9 2016, no walks in 4 1/3 innings this year) while his strikeout rate is climbing (7.94 SO/9 in 2015, to 12.41 SO/9 in 2016, 8 strikeouts this year). If the refinement of the secondaries develops as he builds innings – and I am confident they will – he is a good bet to project as Role 60, late-inning set-up man, with the double-plus fastball carrying him in the role.