Rene Pinto

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #14 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Low
  
  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.
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #22 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Catching is a family tradition for Rene Pinto. His father Rene was a minor league catcher in the Yankees system from 1994-2000 and ranked as the team’s best defensive catcher in 1998. The younger Pinto signed in 2013 for $100,000, but he largely worked in obscurity until this season. He more than doubled his career high in home runs and threw out 37.5% of basestealers.
  
  Scouting Report: Pinto has been a solid defensive catcher for a few years. He calls a good game, has a plus-plus arm and has steadily improved his receiving to average. Pinto has opened up his stance and adopted a higher hand set. He doesn’t hit the ball exceptionally hard, but he hits the ball consistently hard, driving balls over the fence to both power alleys. He’s still an aggressive hitter, but with his newfound power, his offensive profile has improved. Now he looks like a .230-.240 hitter, but with the 20-home run power that can make that work as a catcher. Like most catchers, he is a station-to-station runner.
  
  The Future: The Rays had to add Pinto the 40-man roster both to protect him from the Rule 5 draft and to ensure he couldn’t leave as a minor league free agent. Pinto should eventually be a backup catcher with a shot to be a second-division regular.
  

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Low
  
  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.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Low
  
  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.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/Low
  
  Track Record: Catching is a family tradition for Rene Pinto. His father Rene was a minor league catcher in the Yankees system from 1994-2000 and ranked as the team&#39s best defensive catcher in 1998. The younger Pinto signed in 2013 for $100,000, but he largely worked in obscurity until this season. He more than doubled his career high in home runs and threw out 37.5% of basestealers.
  
  Scouting Report: Pinto has been a solid defensive catcher for a few years. He calls a good game, has a plus-plus arm and has steadily improved his receiving to average. Pinto has opened up his stance and adopted a higher hand set. He doesn&#39t hit the ball exceptionally hard, but he hits the ball consistently hard, driving balls over the fence to both power alleys. He&#39s still an aggressive hitter, but with his newfound power, his offensive profile has improved. Now he looks like a .230-.240 hitter, but with the 20-home run power that can make that work as a catcher. Like most catchers, he is a station-to-station runner.
  
  The Future: The Rays had to add Pinto the 40-man roster both to protect him from the Rule 5 draft and to ensure he couldn&#39t leave as a minor league free agent. Pinto should eventually be a backup catcher with a shot to be a second-division regular.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Catching is a family tradition for Rene Pinto. His father Rene was a minor league catcher in the Yankees system from 1994-2000 and ranked as the team’s best defensive catcher in 1998. The younger Pinto signed in 2013 for $100,000, but he largely worked in obscurity until this season. He more than doubled his career high in home runs and threw out 37.5% of basestealers.
  
  Scouting Report: Pinto has been a solid defensive catcher for a few years. He calls a good game, has a plus-plus arm and has steadily improved his receiving to average. Pinto has opened up his stance and adopted a higher hand set. He doesn’t hit the ball exceptionally hard, but he hits the ball consistently hard, driving balls over the fence to both power alleys. He’s still an aggressive hitter, but with his newfound power, his offensive profile has improved. Now he looks like a .230-.240 hitter, but with the 20-home run power that can make that work as a catcher. Like most catchers, he is a station-to-station runner.
  
  The Future: The Rays had to add Pinto the 40-man roster both to protect him from the Rule 5 draft and to ensure he couldn’t leave as a minor league free agent. Pinto should eventually be a backup catcher with a shot to be a second-division regular.