Latest news with #Pintaro
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets DFA pair of relievers to make room for touted prospect
The post Mets DFA pair of relievers to make room for touted prospect appeared first on ClutchPoints. The New York Mets made significant roster changes on Wednesday, reshaping their bullpen by designating left-handers Jose Castillo and Richard Lovelady for assignment to make room for right-handed pitching prospect Jonathan Pintaro and left-hander Brandon Waddell. Advertisement Pintaro, 27, joins the major league roster as the Mets' No. 22 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. A standout in Double-A Binghamton this season, Pintaro posted a 3.40 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 42.1 innings, tallying 57 strikeouts across 11 starts. Despite his role as a starter, he typically pitched in stints of three to five innings and will now transition to a multi-inning bullpen role in the majors. Pintaro was briefly promoted to Triple-A Syracuse before being called up to the big league roster. Renowned for a deep and deceptive arsenal, Pintaro features a plus-rated cutter, a sinker, sweeper, an upper-90s four-seam fastball, and a changeup. Scouts have praised his unusual delivery and pitch movement, identifying him as a strong candidate for a relief role. His journey to the majors is notable. After five collegiate seasons at Division II Shorter University and time in the independent Pioneer League with the Glacier Range Riders, he was signed by the Mets in 2023. Advertisement Alongside Jonathan Pintaro, Brandon Waddell was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets' bullpen has been heavily taxed recently, with all eight relievers used over the previous two days, prompting the need for fresh arms. The moves came at the expense of Jose Castillo and Richard Lovelady, both of whom are now in DFA limbo. Castillo, acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a cash deal, had pitched well with a 2.38 ERA in 11.1 innings over 13 appearances for the Mets. He maintained a 24.1% strikeout rate, a 10.3% walk rate, and a 55.9% ground ball rate. However, a difficult outing against Atlanta on Tuesday, where he allowed three inherited runners to score and was charged with two earned runs, factored into the decision. Lovelady, signed just days earlier to a minor league deal, made his Mets debut on Tuesday, allowing two earned runs on one hit and two walks across 1.2 innings. Before joining the Mets, he had excelled at Triple-A with the Twins, recording a 1.31 ERA over 20.2 innings, with a 26.5% strikeout rate and 60.4% ground ball rate. Advertisement The moves leave the Mets with no true left-handed specialist in the bullpen. Although Waddell is a lefty, he is expected to serve in a long relief capacity. Brooks Raley, recovering from Tommy John surgery, remains a possible option for later in the season. In the meantime, the Mets are expected to explore external options for left-handed relief help as the trade deadline approaches. Related: Mets' trade proposal for Alex Bregman if Red Sox continue trading Related: MLB rumors: Mets, Phillies still keeping trade tabs on struggling White Sox star
Fox Sports
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Journey man: Mets pitcher Jonathan Pintaro takes improbable path to majors
Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Some players take unusual paths to the big leagues. And then there is the journey of Jonathan Pintaro. Undrafted from a Division II college in Georgia, he spent two seasons in the MLB Draft League for overlooked long shots. Then two years pitching for the Glacier Range Riders of the independent Pioneer League — where he compiled a 6.60 ERA. So when Pintaro walked into the New York Mets' clubhouse Wednesday, about 2,400 miles from 2,291-seat Glacier Bank Park in Kalispell, Montana, needless to say it was an improbable arrival. 'Pretty cool story, right? I think this is an organizational win, when you're talking about a kid that was pitching independent ball last year,' Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. 'Credit to him. Obviously, it's not easy what he did.' Pintaro received a surprise promotion when the struggling Mets shuffled bullpen arms again before Wednesday night's game against Atlanta. Left-handers Jose Castillo and Richard Lovelady were designated for assignment. Pintaro was selected to the major league roster, and lefty Brandon Waddell was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. The 27-year-old Pintaro is looking to make his major league debut. Born in Pelham, Alabama, he pitched for five seasons from 2017-22 at Shorter University, a small, private Baptist school in Georgia. The right-hander was toiling in independent ball for a second consecutive season when the Mets signed him to a minor league deal in June 2024. 'There was a mix of emotions," Pintaro recalled. "I called my family and we were all crying because I finally got signed.' He pitched at three levels in the Mets' farm system last year, going 3-6 with a 2.68 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 74 innings while making 15 starts and two relief appearances. That was good enough to get a look in the Arizona Fall League for top prospects. 'It's been unreal,' Pintaro told reporters. 'It's been a dream come true. I did six years of college and then I was like, all right, nothing happened. So I went to indy ball in Montana, I was like, I'll give it one or two more years, see how it goes. That second year, it happened.' This year, Pintaro was 0-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 11 starts at Double-A Binghamton, where he racked up 57 strikeouts against 15 walks in 42 1/3 innings. 'This is a kid that continues to get people out," Mendoza said. "It's kind of like a funky delivery, you know? Got a combination of a sinker and a cutter. So, pretty special day for him. Dream come true. And look, with the way where we're at bullpen-wise, this is a guy that can give us up to 75-80 pitches if we need to. So, looking for length here, and we'll go from there.' Pintaro had just been promoted to Triple-A this week when he was re-routed to the big leagues. He was driven to Syracuse on Tuesday morning and caught the team bus to Rochester for a road series against the Red Wings. That's where he was informed he was suddenly heading south to New York City to join the Mets. He thought it was a joke. 'Crazy ride,' Pintaro said. ___ AP MLB: recommended
