Ricardo Antonio Pinto Valera (born January 20, 1994) is a Venezuelan professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

for the

Diablos Rojos del México The Diablos Rojos del Mexico (English: Mexico Red Devils) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Mexico City, Mexico. The team was founded in 1940 by Salvador Lutteroth and Ernesto Carmona. The Diablos Rojos play their ho ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...

. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

and

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...

, in the

KBO League The KBO League () is a professional baseball league in South Korea. The league comprises ten teams. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers are the most success ...

for the

SK Wyverns SSG Landers () are a South Korean professional baseball, professional baseball team. The team was originally established as the SK Wyverns but was renamed as the SSG Landers in 2021 after Shinsegae acquired the team from SK Group. They are a membe ...

, and in the

Chinese Professional Baseball League The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL; ) is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989 and played the first season in 1990. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 20 ...

(CPBL) for the

Rakuten Monkeys The Rakuten Monkeys (), formerly known as La New Bears (2004–2010) and Lamigo Monkeys (2011–2019), are a professional baseball team in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in Taiwan. Owned and administered by the Japanese technol ...

Career

Philadelphia Phillies

Pinto signed with the

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 The Williamsport Crosscutters are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and play their home games at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field. From 1994 to 2020, they w ...

. Pinto spent 2015 with the

Lakewood BlueClaws The Jersey Shore BlueClaws (formerly Lakewood BlueClaws) are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Lakewood, New Jersey, and are named for their locat ...

and

Clearwater Threshers The Clearwater Threshers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Clearwater, Florida, and have played their home games at BayCare Ballpark since 20 ...

. 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 In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...

(ERA) and 105

strikeouts In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safe ...

. The Phillies added him to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season. Pinto started the 2017 season with the

Lehigh Valley IronPigs The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and they are named in reference to pig iron, used ...

, and was called up to

Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

on May 31, making his MLB debut the same day. In his debut against the

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League East, East Division. The ...

, 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 The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...

in exchange for international signing bonus pool money. He was designated for assignment on May 28. Pinto cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Triple–A

Charlotte Knights The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They are located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and play their home games at Truist Field ...

on June 2. In 30 appearances split between Charlotte and the High–A

Winston-Salem Dash The Winston-Salem Dash are a Minor League Baseball team in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They are a High-A team in the South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Chicago White Sox since 1997. The Dash began playing their home games ...

, he accumulated a 5.95 ERA with 46 strikeouts across 65 innings of work. Pinto elected free agency following the season on November 2.

Tampa Bay Rays

On January 28, 2019, Pinto signed a minor league deal with the

. On August 30, the Rays selected Pinto's contract.

San Francisco Giants

On September 6, 2019, the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

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

of the

. He became a free agent following the season. In one season of work in the KBO, Pinto pitched to a 6–15 record with a 6.17 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 162 innings of work.

Detroit Tigers

On February 20, 2021, Pinto signed a minor league contract with the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

organization. Pinto split the year between the Double-A

Erie SeaWolves The Erie SeaWolves are an American professional baseball team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. They compete in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) as a member of the Eastern League's Southwest Division, serving as the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Ti ...

and the Triple-A

Toledo Mud Hens The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Toledo, Ohio, and play their home games at Fifth Third Field. A baseball team nicknamed the ...

, recording a cumulative 14–4 record and 4.29 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 123.2 innings of work between the two teams. He elected minor league free agency following the season on November 7. On March 13, 2022, Pinto re-signed with the Tigers organization on a new minor league deal. He was released on July 3, 2022.

Rakuten Monkeys

On July 28, 2022, Pinto signed with the

of the

. Pinto appeared in 4 games (3 starts) for Rakuten, struggling to a 1–2 record and 6.06 ERA with 9 strikeouts in 16.1 innings pitched.

Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos

On February 8, 2023, Pinto signed with the

Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos The Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos (English: Two Laredos Owls), formerly known as the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo (English: Nuevo Laredo Owls), are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League. The Tecolotes are a binational baseball team, spli ...

of the

. In 10 starts, Pinto went 2–3 with a 5.44 ERA and 41 strikeouts over 49.2 innings. He was released on June 14, 2023.

Diablos Rojos del México

On June 19, 2023, Pinto signed with the

of the

. In 9 games (5 starts) for México, he posted a 3.34 ERA with 18 strikeouts in innings of work.

Philadelphia Phillies (second stint)

On February 18, 2024, Pinto signed a minor league contract to return to the Phillies. On April 2, he had his contract selected to the active roster. He made his return to the MLB that night, earning his first career save while pitching 4 innings in a win over the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...

. In 6 appearances for Philadelphia, Pinto struggled to a 10.97 ERA with 8 strikeouts across innings of work. He was designated for assignment on April 28 when

Taijuan Walker Taijuan Emmanuel Walker (born August 13, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue ...

returned from the injured list. Pinto elected free agency after clearing waivers on May 2. He was re-signed to a minor league contract on May 9. In 16 games (6 starts) for the Triple–A

, Pinto posted a 4–1 record and 5.27 ERA with 40 strikeouts across innings pitched. He was released by the Phillies organization on August 12.

Diablos Rojos del México (second stint)

On January 29, 2025, Pinto signed with the

of the

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinto, Ricardo 1994 births Living people Charlotte Knights players Clearwater Threshers players Diablos Rojos del México players Durham Bulls players Lakewood BlueClaws players Lehigh Valley IronPigs players Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from Venezuela 21st-century Venezuelan sportsmen Montgomery Biscuits players Baseball players from Guacara Philadelphia Phillies players Rakuten Monkeys players Reading Fightin Phils players SSG Landers players Tampa Bay Rays players Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos players Tiburones de La Guaira players Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Mexico Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in South Korea Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Taiwan Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States Venezuelan Summer League Phillies players Williamsport Crosscutters players Winston-Salem Dash players