Rene Pinto Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

Track Record: Rene Pinto made his MLB debut on April 26, 2022. He's also the second-longest employed Ray on the 40-man roster. Pinto signed with the Rays out of Venezuela in 2013. Only 2012 signee Yonny Chrinos has been a Ray longer among players on the current 40-man roster. Because he's a late-bloomer, Pinto was only added to the 40-man roster before the 2022 season, so he used only his first option while shuttling back-and-forth from Durham to Tampa Bay and back.

Scouting Report: Pinto fits the profile of an MLB backup catcher thanks to arm, power and defense. And he doesn't fit the profile of a starting catcher because of his struggles to consistently make contact. His significant swing-and-miss issues at the plate ensures he gets to that power only sporadically. Pinto should do better than the 42% strikeout rate he showed in his MLB debut, but his modest bat speed and bat-to-ball skills explain why he projects to be a well below-average hitter. He's a solid game-caller, but only an average receiver. Pinto does a good job of shutting down running games with a plus arm.

The Future: Pinto's 2023 season will largely be determined by the Rays other moves at catcher. Pinto is ready to serve as the Rays' backup catcher, but if the Rays add an external catcher and retain Francisco Mejia, Pinto would likely end up back as the No. 3 catcher for another year thanks to his two remaining options.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 55. Field: 50. Run: 40. Arm: 60.