The Rockies announced that right-hander Riley Pint has been outrighted off the team’s 40-man roster. Pint wasn’t known to have been designated for assignment, but he apparently cleared waivers and will now likely be headed to the Rockies’ Triple-A affiliate. This is the first time Pint has been outrighted and he has less than a year of MLB service time, so he can’t reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency.
Taken fourth overall in the 2016 draft, Pint briefly retired during the 2021 minor league season after dealing with multiple injuries and a lack of performance over his first six years as a professional. Pint returned to the mound in 2022 but couldn’t shake the severe control issues that have plagued his career, and to date he has a whopping 17.77% walk rate over 300 2/3 minor league innings. His brief time in the majors has been even more extreme in terms of free passes, as Pint has walked eight of the 27 batters he has faced at the MLB level — between all these walks and two homers allowed, Pint has a 22.09 ERA over his 3 2/3 career innings in the Show.
Pint’s weeklong stint on Colorado’s active roster ended on Thursday when he was optioned to Triple-A, and he has now been removed from the 40-man roster altogether. It isn’t yet clear if the outright assignment could hint at the end of Pint’s time in the organization, even though his ability to miss bats (33.1% strikeout rate at Triple-A) remains elite. This strikeout ability helped Pint post a 3.10 ERA in 29 innings with Triple-A Albuquerque this season, albeit also with a 19.8% walk rate. The possibility exists that Pint could be a valuable reliever if he can manage even decent control, yet he hasn’t made any progress in this area.
The one good thing about Riley Pint is that as long as Matt Harrington exists, he will never be the worst first round pick in Rockies history.
Harrington wasn’t the worst by far, IMO. Casey Weathers, a reliever? Chris Nelson? Or my winner for the worst, Greg Reynolds. Horrible. And then consider the guys (plural) they passed on to draft that big stiff.
Chris Nelson and Greg Reynolds both made the majors. Nelson actually had a 5 year career in the majors. That alone doesn’t make them the worst in my mind. Casey Weathers was used in a trade to get DJ LeMahieu. None of them were as bad as Harrington, a top 10 pick that didn’t sign (before teams got compensation for that). In fact he was drafted for five consecutive years without signing with any of the teams because he wanted too much money each time. The Rockies were the only one to waste a first rounder on him though. .
They were predicted to win 100+ this season, they will actually end up losing 100+ this season. Biggest bust in MLB history.
I must’ve missed when “they” predicted that.
Right? I don’t bet, but I would have net my life savings on that under.
Predicted by who? Rockies? Or their fans?
Confused them with the Pirates, sorry.
It’s too bad. If they had nicknames on the jerseys for players weekend. He could’ve put ice cream on his jersey. And it’s currently players weekend
Interest in Pint remains fluid.
Thank you. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go that route, but dad joke in 3, 2, 1…Did they get 2 cups to replace him???
Sure, just don’t get quart.
Riley Pint is only one eighth the pitcher Zac Gallen is!
He is believed to be discussing a move to Toronto. He’s going to change his last name to 473ml.
Pint is yet another lesson the teams should not be wasting high first round picks on high school right handers who throw hard. The success rate for them translating is so low.
This kid had control issues. He plunked Joc and Gurriel, and almost plunked Josh Bell, the other day when they played AZ. All in the same inning.
To be fair, Joc aint easy to miss!
Stay in the Show so I can say I’ve gotten a hit off of an MLB player. Faced him in high school…
His height and ERA are anything but “pint”-sized.