Josmil Pinto

Josmil Pinto
Minnesota Twins – No. 43
Catcher / Designated hitter
Born: March 31, 1989
Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 2013 for the Minnesota Twins
Career statistics
(through 2014 season)
Batting average .257
Home runs 11
Runs batted in 30
Teams

Josmil Oswaldo Pinto (born March 31, 1989) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher and Designated hitter for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). Pinto made his MLB debut in 2013.

Career

After the 2012 season, the Twins added Pinto to their 40 man roster in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[1] Beginning the 2013 season with the New Britain Rock Cats of the Class AA Eastern League, Pinto was named an Eastern League All-Star.[2] He was promoted to the Rochester Red Wings of the Class AAA International League in August.[3][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]

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 16 runners who attempted to steal a base on him to do so.

References

  1. ↑ "Twins add eight players to Major League roster". MLB.com. November 20, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Rock Cats: Rock Cats' All-Star catcher, Josmil Pinto, working to improve his all-around game. - Hartford Courant". Articles.courant.com. July 8, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Josh Willingham, others shuffle among rehab assignments". Star Tribune. August 2, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Twins like what they see in Pinto behind the plate". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140325&content_id=70080818&notebook_id=70084140&vkey=notebook_min&c_id=min
  6. ↑ "Twins recall Josmil Pinto from Triple-A Rochester | twinsbaseball.com: News". Minnesota.twins.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.

External links