The Phillies announced that they have selected the contract of right-hander Ricardo Pinto, with fellow righty Connor Brogdon designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
The Phils have had to lean heavily on their bullpen to start this season, using five relievers in each of the first three games and six relievers last night. Brogdon pitched in three of those four contests and didn’t fare well, allowing six earned runs in two innings. He struck out three batters but also issued six walks and allowed three hits, two of which were home runs.
That’s a small sample size but it continues a worrying trend for a pitcher who looked so strong not too long ago. From 2020 to 2022, he made 112 appearances for the Phils with a 3.42 earned run average. He struck out 25.1% of batters faced in that time and walked just 7.3%. He added another 8 2/3 innings in the 2022 postseason with a 2.08 ERA, helping the Phillies make it to the World Series.
But he took a step back last year, with his strikeout rate falling to 20.5% and his walk rate climbing to 10.2%. His ERA for the year was 4.03 but he was likely fortunate for it to be that low. His 80.6% strand rate was on the high side, which is why his 5.15 FIP and 4.59 SIERA were less optimistic than his ERA. As he struggled, he was optioned to the minors and burned his last option.
This year, he didn’t look sharp in his 7 2/3 spring innings, giving out six walks compared to seven strikeouts. As mentioned, those struggles have carried over into the regular season. His fastball was averaging 95-6 miles per hour in 2021 and 2022 but was down to 94.7 mph last year and has been 92.8 mph so far this year. With the bullpen fairly taxed and Brogdon now out of options, he’s been squeezed out as the club adds a fresh arm.
The Phils will now have a week to either trade Brogdon or pass him through waivers. His recent form is obviously not very exciting but he could perhaps attract some other clubs based on his previous results. He came into this season with two years and 139 days of service time, meaning he could be controlled for three seasons beyond this one if he gets a roster spot elsewhere.
Pinto, 30, signed a minor league deal with the Phils in February. He spent 2023 pitching in the Mexican League for the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos and the Diablos Rojos del México, then headed to Venezuela for some time in winter ball. He logged 137 2/3 innings between Mexico and Venezuela with a 4.12 ERA, 17.6% strikeout rate and 6.7% walk rate. He tossed 5 2/3 innings in Spring Training recently, striking out three but also walking three.
He’s out of options and will need to be removed from the 40-man entirely if the Phils want to bump him off the roster in the future. He previously pitched for the 2017 Phillies and 2019 Rays, with a career ERA of 8.44 in 32 big league innings thus far.
Ricardo Pinto is certainly a deja vu move
Phillies struggling and I love it.
We’ve seen this movie often. They always struggle in March and April.
Still fun to watch them scrambling already. But yeah, I know they will find their groove quickly.
@cbraves
Pretty stupid comment considering we always seem to lose to them when it actually matters most.
My gosh dude, quit being so serious. I’m just having a joke.
I get that, it just kind of astounds me the amount of Braves fans that are so braggadocios when they have lost to their biggest rival in embarrassing fashion the past two postseasons. Whether you were “joking” or not, their are a large number of fans that act that way. My apologies for coming off a little harsh. Ughh, I just don’t get the need for homerism and cockiness (I’m not saying it’s you).
I know a lot of people go overboard with it. We’re only 5 games in and I know the Phillies and Braves will be butting heads all year. It’s really the best rivalry in baseball now and I like to have just some friendly trash talk. Nothing serious, just all in good fun. It’s baseball.
You’re right again. And it’s the same with some decent starting pitching, no hitting and bullpen blowups.
This team has no sense of urgency.Wins in April make it easier in September
It’s frustrating that they do this every year. But it’s also April in the Northeast, and the Phillies are a team that needs to hit to win. So it somewhat makes sense I suppose.
HAD to be done.
Brogdon hasn’t been the same since beginning of last year when topper had him pitch in 30 of the first 60 games. Thomson is terrible at bullpen management
He’s absolutely awful at managing the bullpen.
Braves lineup murdered another pitcher. It happened a lot last year.
The Braves threw the first punch, the Red really finished the job.
Until the playoffs
And these aren’t the playoffs. So…
Brogdon can’t find the plate and when he gets lucky and finally throws a strike it’s blasted 20 rows deep.
The Phils have had to lean heavily on their bullpen to start this season
========================
The Phillies are 20th in IPs in relief. That hardly “lean heavily”. If fact, some folks would consider that below-average usage.
3 good starts from Wheeler, Suarez and Sanchez. 1 terrible start from Nola. So I agree with your comments here. Probably below-average usage outside of that Nola game.
I just object to MLB-R feeling like they need to add ‘color’ to everything.
Yesterday, it was Ruiz with “a key component of the Oakland roster in recent years” even though Ruiz has been with the As for one year with a negative bWAR.
Before that, it was Song’s injury with “nonetheless a brutal blow for the club’s pitching depth”.. I was hoping for a 2025 or 2026 BP contribution from Song. Hardly a “brutal blow”.
Brogdon has looked gassed and off. Wish we signed some better relievers over the off season.
It shows how volatile bullpens are. MLB rated the Phils as the best pen in baseball. So far it’s been horrific.
I thought they’d sign a legit closer, maybe even Hader, but I wouldn’t be concerned about the 6-7-8 inning guys. Someone will fail, but that happens to every team.
Should have designated him yrs ago!
In a better managed game, Brogdon is never put in that spot in the game.
Phillies finally cut bait with Brogdon. Hopefully now the Mets will cut bait with their worse version, Drew Smith, the worst reliever that gets consistent playing time in the whole MLB
Pinto may actually be worse than Brogdon. Please release him now !