News Now:After making his much-needed debut, the Phillies’ newest bullpen arm makes them appear like geniuses.

After making his much-needed debut, the Phillies’ newest bullpen arm makes them appear like geniuses.

 

 

Right-hander Ricardo Pinto received a last-minute call-up just hours before Tuesday night’s game, but he stepped in

and delivered, providing a much-needed boost to the Phillies bullpen following a challenging start to the season.

In a classic example of one door closing and another opening, the Phillies made a strategic move by designating Connor Brogdon for assignment and bringing up

right-handed reliever Ricardo Pinto. This decision paid immediate dividends and reflected positively on the front office.

Pinto may ring a bell for Phillies fans who recall his initial stint with the team back in 2017, during which he appeared

in 25 games and logged 29 2/3 innings. Remarkably, there was a six-year and 194-day gap between his appearances

with the Phillies, marking the longest span between appearances for a Phillies player since Marlon Byrd (8 years, 322 days) from 2005 to 2014.

Following the 2017 season, Pinto only saw action in two major league games with the Tampa Bay Rays, and he

subsequently navigated through various foreign leagues and minor league affiliates.

But he made his way back to Philadelphia by signing a minor league contract in February, and his return was a welcome sight on Tuesday night.

Mere hours after his call-up, the 30-year-old took the mound in the sixth inning to relieve starter Spencer Turnbull, who

had delivered an impressive five innings. Pinto wasted no time, showcasing his 90-92 mph sinker and his 83-84 mph splitter.

In his initial inning of work, he induced a weak ground ball and struck out two batters with his deceptive splitters.

Manager Rob Thomson displayed even more confidence in Pinto, opting to keep

him on the mound for a second inning while the game remained close. Although he conceded a single, Pinto proceeded to

pitch a scoreless seventh inning. As the Phillies offense erupted, Thomson entrusted Pinto to finish the game in the eighth and ninth innings. Pinto notched

his first major league save, allowing five hits and two earned runs while issuing zero walks and striking out four over four gritty innings.

It was a remarkable performance considering reports that he arrived at the

game in the midst of the fourth inning, as noted by The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. With Turnbull’s solid outing and Bryce

Harper’s offensive prowess, Pinto offered crucial relief to a pitching staff that had been under strain and struggling in the

initial four games of the season. It was precisely the solution needed after witnessing Brogdon’s struggles the previous night.

The future role of Pinto as a high-impact pitcher or his longevity on the roster remains uncertain. However, he brings

much-needed versatile depth to the Phillies organization, which is bound to prove invaluable throughout the season.

 

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