RENÉ PINTO NEWS

Rays waive catcher Rene Pinto, re-sign pitcher Jacob Waguespack The 2024 season-opening starter behind the plate failed miserably and was claimed by Baltimore. The versatile right-hander got a guaranteed...

NOVEMBER 5 • TAMPABAY.COM

Claimed by Baltimore The Orioles claimed Pinto off waivers from the Rays on Monday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Impact Pinto began the 2024 season as the Rays' starting catcher but was sent down in early May after a slow start and was never recalled. The 28-year-old has hit .231/.263/.404 with 10 home runs over 82 games at the big-league level. Baltimore has an opening at backup catcher and Pinto will be a candidate to fill it.

NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Rays' Rene Pinto hopes to get on a roll vs. Angels Everything the Tampa Bay Rays did -- or didn’t do -- during the offseason and spring training made it clear they were all in on catcher Rene...

APRIL 16 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

On bench again Sunday Pinto is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.

Impact Pinto will take a seat for the third time in four games as Ben Rortvedt gets another turn behind the plate. Though Pinto is still seemingly viewed as the Rays' top backstop, he appears set to play less frequently than most No. 1 catchers around the league.

APRIL 7 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out Saturday Pinto isn't in the Rays' lineup for Saturday's game against the Rockies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Pinto has struck out in each of his last five at-bats since Tuesday, so he'll get a day to regroup Saturday. Ben Rortvedt will fill in behind the dish and bat eighth.

APRIL 6 • ROTOWIRE

Taking seat Wednesday Pinto is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Rangers.

Impact It's a day game after a night game, so Pinto will get a breather while Ben Rortvedt handles the catching duties. Pinto is 3-for-13 with a couple doubles in the early going this season.

APRIL 3 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Friday Pinto is out of the lineup for Friday's game versus the Blue Jays.

Impact The 27-year-old started behind the plate Opening Day and went 1-for-3 with a double, a run and a strikeout. Pinto is expected to serve as Tampa Bay's primary backstop this season, but the newly acquired Ben Rortvedt will receive the nod Friday.

MARCH 29 • ROTOWIRE

Headed for big opportunity Pinto is currently the only catcher on the Rays' 40-man roster and is expected to get a lot of opportunities in the starting lineup, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Pinto emerged as a viable backup across the second half of the 2023 season, but he should see a more significant role with both Christian Bethancourt and Francisco Mejia in new organizations. Across 105 plate appearances last year, Pinto posted a .204 ISO and 98 wRC+, though those marks also came with a 32.4 percent strikeout rate and only a 1.9 percent walk rate. His batting average could be a significant concern as a result.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Wednesday Pinto is not in the lineup Wednesday versus the Red Sox.

Impact Pinto contributed a two-run homer to the Rays' 9-7 win at Boston on Tuesday, but he'll grab a breather during Wednesday's series finale as Christian Bethancourt starts behind the plate.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cranks sixth homer Pinto went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's 9-7 win over the Red Sox.

Impact Pinto extended Tampa's lead to 7-0 in the third inning with a two-run, 424-foot blast off Tanner Houck. The 26-year-old Pinto has taken over as the Rays' primary option behind the plate -- he's gone 10-for-50 (.200) in his last 16 games, though five of his hits have been home runs. Overall, Pinto's batting .245 with a .717 OPS, six homers, 16 RBI and eight runs scored through 96 plate appearances this season.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets breather Saturday Pinto isn't in the Rays' lineup Saturday against the Blue Jays, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.

Impact After going 0-for-7 with three strikeouts across his last two games, Pinto will take a seat Saturday as Christian Bethancourt starts behind the plate and bats eighth.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Receives Wednesday off Pinto is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.

Impact Pinto has operated as Tampa Bay's primary backstop over the past couple weeks and has an .846 OPS over 39 at-bats in September, but he'll head to the bench for Wednesday's contest. Christian Bethancourt will take over behind the plate and bat ninth.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup Sunday Pinto is absent from the lineup Sunday at Baltimore.

Impact Pinto started behind the plate Friday and Saturday and went a combined 1-for-7 with a strikeout and a run scored. Christian Bethancourt will handle the catching for the Rays in Sunday's series finale.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Thursday Pinto is not in the lineup Thursday against the Orioles.

Impact Pinto has posted an impressive .818 OPS with five home runs in 26 games (71 plate appearances) since being called up from Triple-A Durham in late July, but it'll be Christian Bethancourt handling the catching duties for the Rays on Thursday at Baltimore.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Clubs another homer Pinto went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Twins.

Impact PInto snapped out of a mini-slump, entering Tuesday's game 0-for-9 at the plate in his last two games, and delivered a pair of hits including a home run. PInto's enjoyed a hot start to September, batting .286 with four home runs and eight total RBI across nine games.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Crushes fourth homer Pinto went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Friday's 7-4 win over Seattle.

Impact Pinto's 108.7-mph home run in the seventh inning tied the game and chased George Kirby from his start. The 25-year-old has seen increased playing time since Francisco Mejia was outrighted to Triple-A Durham on Aug. 28. Pinto has started six games and hit two home runs since that time. He should continue to split time behind the plate in Tampa Bay with Christian Bethancourt.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Showing suprising pop Pinto went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run Tuesday against the Red Sox.

Impact Pinto has split the catcher role evenly across the last two weeks with Christian Bethancourt, and he's made the case to maintain that playing time by hitting .357 with three homers and nine RBI across 12 games. After his home run Tuesday, he's also gone deep into back-to-back games and has four extra-base knocks in his last six contests. Pinto has the profile of a backup catcher after progressing slowly through the Rays' minor-league system, though he did post 125 and 116 wRC+ marks with Triple-A Durham in 2021 and 20221, respectively.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Moves into timeshare at catcher Pinto will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Pinto seems to have moved into a timeshare at catcher with Christian Bethancourt, as the two backstops have now alternated turns behind the plate over the past 12 games. Since his call-up from Triple-A Durham on July 21, Pinto is hitting .295 but hasn't offered much production in other categories (one home run, no stolen bases, five RBI and two runs over 46 plate appearances).

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Retreats to bench Wednesday Pinto is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Pinto had started behind the dish in three of the Rays' last four games, going 3-for-11 with a home run and four RBI. Despite the uptick in playing time of late, Pinto is still expected to serve as the Rays' No. 2 catcher behind Christian Bethancourt, who is back behind the dish Wednesday. Pinto should still have a decent amount of job security on the major-league roster after the Rays designated Francisco Mejia (knee) for assignment Tuesday upon reinstating him from the 10-day injured list.

AUGUST 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Summoned to majors Pinto was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact He's taking the roster spot vacated by Francisco Mejia, who has landed on the injured list with a sprained knee. Pinto just came back from an injury himself, having missed the last month with a bruised hand. He'll serve as Christian Bethancourt's backup.

JULY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nearing return Pinto (undisclosed) began a rehab assignment Monday, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Pinto has been sidelined since late May with an undisclosed injury, though he appears to be nearing a return. He may get a chance in the majors immediately, as Francisco Mejia (knee) exited Thursday's game against the Orioles and could be forced to miss time.

JULY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to Durham The Rays optioned Pinto to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Christian Bethancourt and Francisco Mejia have both made it through spring camp unscathed, so Pinto will be stationed at Durham as probably the No. 3 catcher on Tampa Bay's organizational depth chart. The 26-year-old batted just .213/.241/.325 over his first 83 major-league plate appearances in 2022.

MARCH 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not on wild-card roster Pinto was left off the Rays' 26-man roster ahead of their AL Wild Card Series with the Guardians.

Impact With Francisco Mejia returning from the paternity list Friday, Pinto was no longer needed to serve as the backup option behind Christian Bethancourt at catcher heading into the postseason. The 25-year-old Pinto produced a .213 average with two homers, 10 RBI and five runs scored over 25 games in the big leagues this season and appears unlikely to be considered for a roster spot moving forward barring any injuries.

OCTOBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Serving as backup catcher Pinto was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times

Impact With Francisco Mejia getting placed on the paternity list, Pinto will serve as the Rays' backup catcher over the final two games of the season. Pinto is hitting .211 with two home runs in 79 plate appearances this season.

OCTOBER 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Pinto was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Thursday.

Impact The Rays had been carrying Pinto as a third catcher, but they'll drop down to two backstops for the time being. Pinto is hitting .211/.241/.316 with two home runs in 24 games.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE