Promote Josmil Pinto?

[Boone]

In case people haven't noticed, Josmil Pinto has been raking in AAA.  In 43 games, he's hitting .300/.405/.525 (.930 OPS).  More importantly, after displaying impressive excellent plate discipline to go along with solid pop in AA a year ago, Pinto has improved in both of those areas despite playing against tougher competition: his BB% has ticked up from 14.1% to 14.2%, while his strikeout rate has dropped from 15.7% to 13.7% (causing his BB:K ratio to increase from .90 to 1.04) and his ISO has increased dramatically from .174 to .225. 

 

Not only is this solid improvement, but he's been flat-out spectacular in AAA.  Consider this: in 47 games in AAA, Pinto has more walks (27) and almost as many extra-base hits (23) as he does strikeouts (26).  I don't know what to say about that other than it's really impressive.  Combine this with the fact that Pinto was solid offensively in his time with the Twins (107 wRC+ despite a .245 BABIP) and I don't think it can be denied that Pinto is more than ready offensively for the major leagues.  

 

The question of course, then comes down to whether or not he is ready to play catcher every day.  His defensive struggles were a major reason why he was sent down to AAA (maybe the main reason) and so he will have to prove that he can handle the position before he is promoted.  Let's hope he's nearly there.

[drjim]

September 1 or very soon after we will gather a little more evidence.

[Twins Twerp]

The question of course, then comes down to whether or not he is ready to play catcher every day.  His defensive struggles were a major reason why he was sent down to AAA (maybe the main reason) and so he will have to prove that he can handle the position before he is promoted.  Let's hope he's nearly there.

Imwould say the only reason. He raked up in the show as well. But defense was not even passable.

[adjacent]

After seing unimpressive plays by Fryer las night, and considering that Suzuki calls a good game but is less than great throwing runners, when you put everything in the balance, why not Pinto?

[beckmt]

Believe the Twins leave Pinto in Rochester until the end of the season, then he will be up here and us fans will get a better idea of what the Twins think of him. Do not see where he would play as Vargas will get the majority of the DH ABs and you would have to catch him 3 times a week to have him play 4 times a week.

[Craig in MN]

I want to see him up to, but I think the Twins are basically done with him at catcher.  He will get called up in September, and they will give him every chance to show them some reason for hope.  But he'll be 26 by opening day year next year.  If a guy isn't a passable catcher by 26, I don't like his odds of becoming one.  Even if he does become passable in a year or two years, he will do so in a backup role, and then he'll probably start to break down soon, and his defense is likely to start to suffer again.  His bat looks like it will be good enough to play somewhere every day soon.  It just doesn't seem like "Pinto at Catcher for the Twins" is a fit.

 

If Pinto doesn't show some defensive improvement fast, I wonder if the Twins should try to see if he could make the move to the outfield.  There most obvious hole for the Twins next year is a corner OF.  It might be a stretch for him out there too, but the Twins have played plenty of poor outfielders in the past few years. 

[Mike Sixel]

Should never have been sent down, imo.

[DuluthFan]

His offensive skills are not the reason he was sent down. It was his defensive skills. He needs to not be a liability behind the plate. While neither Pinto nor Suzuki were gunning down runners early in the season, at least Suzuki wasn't consistantly throwing the ball away allowing runners to advance an extra base. It was more pronounced considering he was only behind the plate once a week.

 

The DH posittion is currently filled, so unless he is going to play a corner outfield position, he will be sitting on the bench a lot at the major league level.

[iTwins]

I'd say he's up with the rest of the September promotions, and he may see a good bit of time behind the plate during that last month. I certainly wouldn't take plate appearances away from Vargas just to get Pinto in the lineup (So, no DH, unless the Twins want to rest Mauer frequently towards the end of the year).

 

His bat was never really the question, but it's still nice to see that he's still an offensive threat while in AAA. If he can round out his defense, he's got a role on this club. As a pure DH? I'm not so sure.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm guessing Sept 1.. but like others said, his offense wasn't the reason he was sent down. 

[TRex]

I'm guessing Sept 1..

... and if Rochester is in the playoffs, it will be even later.

[Willihammer]

 he's got a role on this club. As a pure DH? I'm not so sure.

What role then? Backup C? RH bench bat?

[Mike Sixel]

... and if Rochester is in the playoffs, it will be even later.

 

totally makes sense that the minor league playoffs are more important than seeing what he can do at the MLB level.....

[jokin]

totally makes sense that the minor league playoffs are more important than seeing what he can do at the MLB level.....

 

Affiliates!

[drjim]

At the risk of being wrong, I don't think the Twins will keep Pinto down past August 31. They will call up a third catcher (like every team does) and it makes sense to actually call up a guy who they want to see play. They will call up another arm and probably Hicks as well.

 

The other depth guys - Colabello, Herrmann, another arm or two, will wait until after the season is over.

 

I also think better than 50/50 that Meyer comes up to pitch in the pen.

[drivlikejehu]

I like him more as a hitter than Vargas, at least for now and probably next year. Offense is hard to come by these days, which should give Pinto value even if he isn't the everyday catcher. I'm sure there are teams that would be happy to take him off the Twins hands, if they have no use for him.

[ScottyB]

26 or 27 was about when Willingham moved from catcher to LF.  If they don't like him as a catcher, I would have him try the OF in winter ball this year.  I can't imagine that he could be much worse defensively than the Hammer was.  If nothing else, the versitility would increase his value as trade bait - I'd even play him at 1B as well.

[jorgenswest]

If he can play ok defense at catcher, he is much more valuable. It is worth nesting next season towards continued development of his catching. I advocate for this role.

 

-One start a series at catcher.

-One start a week at DH against a lefty (sit Joe).

 

It would require a manager with the following attributes.

 

-Willingness to play him at DH once a week while carrying two catchers

-Understanding that he needs to be paired with a pitcher that has better command than Deduno.

 

He will determine the rest by his play. If he hits well, he earns more DH time. If his defense improves, he gets more time behind the plate.

 

The 2014 time in AAA only pays off if he plays catcher. He didn't go there to improve his bat. Following 2015, his play at catcher will determine his future role in the majors. Catchers are so difficult to find. They need to give him every opportunity to find success there.

[stringer bell]

Pinto did OK hitting for the Twins this spring. However, his OPS for April was .902, May only .600 and (SSS) June only .412.  So, after April he wasn't very good.  The sporadic use of him as a catcher made things even worse, because he struggled defensively.  I thought it was time for him to be optioned when it happened and still think that was the right call.  Suzuki has had a banner year and deserves to be the regular catcher.  The return to health of Arcia and Willingham and the addition of Kendrys and then Kennys made it all but impossible for Pinto to get at-bats when not catching. 

 

He's the best hitter at Rochester and his approach to hitting should make him a fine major league hitter, but he has to be a better receiver than he showed this spring. 

 

I have been in Pinto's camp since he was in Double A.  I think the problems with his catching are fixable.  I wonder if a recall could be a showcasing effort to perhaps net something for him, if the Twins don't feel like he is a fit with their organization any more.

[Shane Wahl]

He wasn't known to be such an abomination behind the plate in the minors. Not good, but certainly passable. The Twins can rotate Mauer, Vargas, and Pinto a little bit to give Pinto DH time and he can start behind the play some too.

 

Suzuki is a question mark next year as well.

[jokin]

He wasn't known to be such an abomination behind the plate in the minors. Not good, but certainly passable. The Twins can rotate Mauer, Vargas, and Pinto a little bit to give Pinto DH time and he can start behind the play some too.

 

Suzuki is a question mark next year as well.

 

To you and me, maybe, but the coaching staff went out of their way to convince management and ownership at the trading deadline to pony up at least $12M and maybe more over the next 2-3 years.  For better or worse, with Gardy in charge, I think Suzuki will be the every day guy unless and until he hits consistently below the Mendoza line.

[iTwins]

What role then? Backup C? RH bench bat?

I think his role for the Twins is catcher or "bust". That may be as a time sharing catcher with Suzuki, or as a starter (if his bat dictates it) or even as the backup. Either way, his defense has to get up to Major League caliber or I'm not sure where he fits.

 

He'd make a good DH or even a nice part of a DH platoon, but with the switch hitting Vargas looking good (so far) at DH, I don't think the Twins could (or should) bump him in favor of Pinto.

 

I'm rooting for Pinto and I'd love him to become a solid catcher - and I want to be clear that I don't think he's a failure if ONLY his bat develops - but from the Twins' perspective, it may be a necessity if he wants to play on this club.

[Willihammer]

Impossible question: what would Vargas fetch on the trade block?

[diehardtwinsfan]

totally makes sense that the minor league playoffs are more important than seeing what he can do at the MLB level.....

For all this talk about a winning clubhouse atmosphere and what not, I'd think participating in a playoff race would be a good thing. I don't have a problem waiting a few days for that. He wont' get that atmosphere in Minnesota, that's for sure.

[ashbury]

I think his role for the Twins is catcher or "bust".

Many minor league catchers switch to another position.  Do you think that his defense elsewhere also wouldn't be close to acceptable, or that his bat won't "play" anywhere but at an up-the-middle defensive position?

[jokin]

For all this talk about a winning clubhouse atmosphere and what not, I'd think participating in a playoff race would be a good thing. I don't have a problem waiting a few days for that. He wont' get that atmosphere in Minnesota, that's for sure.

 

 

None other than Rob Antony himself- in his May, 2014, dismissal of AAA versus the major leagues in the case of a prospective Alex Meyer promotion- put a major quash on any notion of the beneficiality of an I-League playoff series or two versus actual major league PAs and catching reps, particularly for a major-league-ready guy like Pinto.

 

I've said it before, I'll say it again, come September, Pinto should be playing 3 out of every 4 games, either to inform the Twins on whether or not he's a keeper- and if they've already decided to move on at some point- to showcase him for an offseason trade, someone is going to bite, and hitting catchers are always in demand.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't see how "playoff experience" in AAA is better at seeing what he can do in the majors than actually being in the majors. But, I am genuinely curious about how it could help him.

[Tibs]

Have him work on some LF in the offseason, especially if you don't like him at catcher. If we have a manager who is willing to get creative, he could easily play half the games a week between C/LF/DH.

 

LF really isn't all that hard. I'm not sure how major leaguers like Bartlett and Nunez can make it look hard.

[drjim]

Impossible question: what would Vargas fetch on the trade block?

 

Not much. No d guys have limited value.

[Platoon]

Pinto's lot was cast before the ink dried on Suzuki's contract. He is a Gardy type guy. There was never truly a competition to be the starter. The good Lord himself could not catch Deduno and look good doing it. So, if you have a catcher who you consider poorer defensively, is that the guy he gets to catch? One of the reasons we kept Suzuki was to work with the plethora of young pitchers on the way, like May! Well so far we don't know how that is going to work, do we. One could easily say Suzuki is the catcher of the present. But the problem for the Twins is there is no present, only a future. And all decisions should be based on that premise. I think the fans would buy into that completely. I would rather lose 100 than 90 with the future players losing them. In reality spring training started for this team after the first 10 games post ASG! Btw, I see no way Pinto gets to to equally share catching duties equally with Suzuki, sans injury. It's really not the way Gardy rolls!