Jonathan Pintaro’s path to the Mets has been anything but ordinary, and that’s part of what makes his case so interesting now.
He spent five seasons at Division II Shorter University, where he logged a 3.38 ERA across 305.1 innings. Then came the next detour: undrafted in 2022, he headed to the Glacier Range Riders in the Pioneer League before finally landing a minor league deal with the New York Mets in 2024.
Since then, Pintaro has turned enough heads to become the organization’s No. 21 prospect and earn a few trips to the majors. He’s thrown 18 innings for the Mets over the last two years, though most of his time has still been spent in the minors. And with the Mets’ future looking uncertain, that may open a door for him if he keeps pushing.
What makes Pintaro intriguing is that he doesn’t profile like a one-inning arm, even though that’s mostly how he’s been used so far. He works with a five-pitch mix that points to starter upside.
His cutter is the headliner, sitting at 91.0 mph and showing enough movement to produce a solid whiff rate. In the majors, hitters have missed 29.3% of their swings against it.
He also brings a sinker and four-seam fastball, both in the mid-90s, along with a changeup and a curveball.
The stuff has translated well enough to make a real case. In Triple-A, Pintaro posted a 27.8% strikeout rate this year and a 28.9% whiff rate.
His big-league numbers have been solid too, even if the surface line doesn’t scream it. He owns a 4.15 ERA and 4.99 FIP, and those marks are tied largely to the three home runs he’s allowed in a small sample.
The deeper numbers are more encouraging, especially when you factor in his ability to miss bats and keep contact from getting too loud. The one blemish is the 11.6% walk rate.
There also may not be much standing in his way. Outside of Nolan McLean, the rest of the rotation picture is still unsettled.
Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga are both under contract through 2027, but each has already spent time coming out of the bullpen. Manaea’s move was temporary, while Senga’s has looked more like a longer-term arrangement.
And Pintaro isn’t the only young arm in the mix. Jonah Tong has flashed recently, but inconsistency is still part of the package, especially after he gave up five home runs in his August 5 start against Triple-A Columbus. Jonathan Santucci and Jack Wenninger are also in the conversation, and like Pintaro, they’ll have to win their spots.
For a 28-year-old who has had to earn everything the hard way, the chance is finally there. He’s on the edge of becoming a full-time major leaguer, at least for now. The profile says he can handle regular work for the Mets, particularly with the roster so thin, but the next step has to come on the field.
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