Pint among 5 added to Rockies' 40-man roster

DENVER -- Right-handed pitcher Riley Pint, the third overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft who struggled early in his career and even briefly left the sport, has earned a spot on the Rockies' 40-man roster because of a strong 2022 season at Double-A and Triple-A.

Pint, 25, was one of five players the Rockies added to the roster on Tuesday, which means they cannot be selected by another team during next month’s Rule 5 Draft.

Also added were infielders Warming Bernabel (Rockies No. 8 prospect) and Julio Carreras (No. 27), outfielder Brenton Doyle (No. 21) and right-handed relief pitcher Blair Calvo -- who missed June and July when a heart arrhythmia ailment flared, then finished the season strong.

The additions leave the Rockies’ roster at 38, two below the limit.

Struggling for control in Single-A in 2021, Pint informed the Rockies of a decision to retire, but he was back by 2022 Spring Training. Also back was a fastball capable of reaching 100 mph, as was the case when the Rockies selected him out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, Kan. Pint also returned with improved control and, maybe best of all, a more relaxed yet determined attitude.

Pint regained his footing by going 2-1 with a 4.64 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings over 38 appearances with Double-A Hartford. Promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque in August, Pint had a 3.00 ERA in three outings before the Rockies shut him down as a precaution because of right forearm soreness.

Bernabel, 20, slashed a combined .313/.370/.499 at Single-A Fresno and High-A Spokane, with 26 doubles, 14 home runs, 71 RBIs and 23 steals, and he posted a .920 fielding percentage at third base.

Carreras, 22, slashed .281/.346/.457 with 42 doubles (which led all Minor League players), three triples, 11 home runs, 72 RBIs and 19 stolen baes while playing shortstop at Spokane (110 games) and Hartford (19 games). Carreras led the Northwest League in extra-base hits and finished second in batting average and hits (116).

Doyle, 24, a fourth-round Draft pick in 2019 out of Shepherd University, played at Hartford and Albuquerque and finished with a combined slash line of .256/.300/.473, with 82 runs scored, 22 doubles, five triples, 26 home runs, 77 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. He earned a Minor League Gold Glove Award for his outfield defense.

Calvo, 26, a 23rd-round pick in 2019 out of Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., made 29 relief appearances with Hartford (4-2, 3.09 ERA) and averaged 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings (47 in 35 innings pitched). His heart condition flared during a May 31 appearance. After his Aug. 1 return, Calvo posted a 2.45 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings over 13 games, all while flashing a 95 mph fastball, a hard slider and a changeup.