No. 22: Jonathan Pintaro, RHP

B/T: R/R            Age: 27 (11/07/1997)
Height: 6’2″.     Weight: 235 lbs
Acquired: Signed as minor league free agent in June 2024
ETA: 2025
2024 Stats: 74 IP, 17 G (15 GS), 2.68 ERA, 1.162 WHIP, 75 SO, 28 BB, .216 BAA — nine games (High-A), seven games (Double-A), one game (Triple-A)

Overview

Jonathan Pintaro‘s journey in baseball hasn’t been an ordinary one. He played college ball at Shorter University in Georgia, where he was a star pitcher at the Division II school. Pintaro won National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America First Team honors in 2021 and was named to the Second Team in 2022. In 2021, the right-hander pitched to a 2.93 ERA over 101 ⅓ innings, striking out 150 batters. He struck out 136 batters in 2022, throwing 96 innings and accumulating a 3.47 ERA. He spent six seasons as a college pitcher (missing 2018 and gaining an extra year of eligibility due to COVID). He didn’t sign as an undrafted player in 2020 and didn’t find luck in the 2022 Draft.

After gaining experience in the Draft (it was his first time really learning about pitch design and movement profiles), Pintaro took the independent ball route, pitching for the Glacier Range Riders in the Pioneer League. His 6.93 ERA (90 ⅔ innings) in 2023 was a far cry from his collegiate numbers, but he worked with former major league catcher Austin Nola to hone his skill. Nola pointed out that Pintaro tipped his pitches. Through 14.1 innings in 2024, Pintaro struck out 23, walking only one when the Mets purchased his contract.

Once signed, Pintaro flew through the organization. He pitched to a 2.50 ERA in nine games with Brooklyn in 2024, starting seven of the nine. He allowed 10 earned runs on 28 hits, walking 14 and striking out 35 through 36 innings. Pintaro found similar success two months later in Binghamton, starting seven games for the Rumble Ponies. Through 34 innings, he gave up 26 hits, 12 earned runs, 10 walks and struck out 34. By the end of the 2024 season, he made a start for Syracuse, delivering a clean four innings, giving up four hits, four walks and six strikeouts.

By Steven Wojtowicz

Pintaro also saw work in the Arizona Fall League with the Mets’ affiliate. He appeared in four games, starting two and struck out ten while walking six in 10.1 innings.

The 27-year-old originally stuck with a four-seamer and cutter as his two main pitches early in his career but recently adopted a sinker, sweeper and changeup. His cutter tops out around 89-92 mph, while his fastballs reach 93-95 mph. Pintaro’s sweeper sits between 82-85 mph, and his changeup lands in the mid-80s. While his strikeout rate is elite in a small sample size (22.9% in High-A, 25.0% in Double-A), his walk rate remains high. Pintaro walked 9.2% of batters in Brooklyn and 7.4% in Binghamton. He’ll have to work on control and limiting the number of balls thrown per at-bat to progress further.

2025 Outlook

Pintaro can crack the Mets’ roster during 2025 if he continues on the path he set for himself in 2024. While all signs point to the team using him as a reliever, they may very well utilize him similarly to José Buttó — a starter turned reliever who can provide length. While Pintaro didn’t receive an invite to spring training, it’s a moot point. If a player deserves the call-up, he’ll get it. It’ll require a 40-man roster spot, but he’ll have earned it. However, before Pintaro can earn that call, he needs to improve his control in Triple-A Syracuse and see how he fares against MLB-ready talent.

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