The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired catcher René Pinto off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles, bolstering their roster as they head into the 2024 season. Pinto's journey to Arizona has been eventful; he joined the Orioles in November after being picked up from the Tampa Bay Rays but was designated for assignment in January to clear space for pitcher Charlie Morton.
Pinto's career began in the Rays' organization after signing as an international free agent in 2013. He made his MLB debut in 2022, contributing a -0.2 WAR in 25 games. His performance improved in 2023, where he recorded a .252 batting average, six home runs, and a 0.4 WAR in 38 games.
Despite a promising trajectory, Pinto found himself in a crowded catching situation with the Diamondbacks, where he will compete for playing time against incumbent starter Gabriel Moreno and backups José Herrera and Adrian Del Castillo. Each of these players brings different strengths to the team, adding to the competition for opportunities behind the plate as Spring Training approaches.