René Pinto

His father, René Sr., was also a catcher who played seven seasons in the Yankees system from 1994–2000 and played for the Venezuelan National Team at international tournaments...René was the starting catcher on Sept. 15, 2022 vs. TOR, when the Rays used the first batting order in Major League history comprised of nine players from Latin American countries to celebrate Roberto Clemente Day...He is the longest-tenured member of the Rays organization on the 40-man roster, originally signing with the club on Oct. 1, 2013…He made his Major League debut nearly a decade later in 2022...René is quiet by nature but gained confidence during his extended stay in the big leagues last season…He has set a goal of becoming a more vocal leader this year...His wife, Genesis, grew up in the modeling and pageantry worlds…She recently started her own model coaching business, Smart Models Academy.

2023

Appeared in 38 games, making all 31 of his starts at catcher…Promoted from Triple-A Durham on July 21 and remained on the active roster through the end of the season...Hit .351 (20-for-57) with three 2B, four HR and 10 RBI in 21 road games compared to .130 (6-for-46) with two HR and six RBI across 17 games at Tropicana Field...With one or two outs, hit .309 (22-for-71) with six HR and 16 RBI…With zero outs, hit .125 (4-for-32) with one double and no HR or RBI...Despite throwing out only three of 22 potential base stealers (13.6%), his 1.87 second average pop time to second base ranked in the 94th percentile among all MLB catchers (Baseball Savant)...On July 29 at HOU, made his first career pitching appearance (1.0IP, 5H, 5ER)...On Aug. 2 at NYY, tallied a career-high three hits…The same day, threw out Anthony Volpe at second base, marking his first career catcher caught stealing…Became the first Rays catcher to go 3-for-3 or better since Francisco Mejía on Aug. 18, 2022 (4-for-4)...Hit safely in a career-best six straight games from Aug. 29–Sept. 8, batting .421 (8-for-19) with two doubles, three HR and seven RBI during the run...Recorded an extra-base hit in a career-best four straight games from Aug. 29–Sept. 5...Homered in consecutive games for the first time in his career from Sept. 3-5...Hit .253 (37-for-146) with 12 doubles, nine HR and 24 RBI in 37 games for Durham from March 31– May 29...Postseason: Started both games of the ALWC vs. TEX and went a combined 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.

2022

Appeared in 25 games and made 23 starts, all at catcher…was on the active roster from April 22– May 4, June 10–July 10, July 26–Aug. 4, Sept. 12-21 and Oct. 4-5, his first career major league action...Hit .250 (12-for-48) with one HR and seven RBI in 14 games from July 1 through season’s end...Went 0-for-13 in throwing out base stealers...On April 26 vs. SEA, made his major league debut as a defensive replacement in the fifth inning and hit a two-run homer off Matt Koch in the seventh, the second at-bat of his career…became the first catcher in club history and eighth Ray overall to homer in his major league debut, joining Wander Franco in 2021, Yoshi Tsutsugo in 2020, Willy Adames in 2018, Brandon Guyer in 2011, Elijah Dukes in 2007, Delmon Young in 2006 and Brent Abernathy in 2001…according to the Elias Sports Bureau, was the 10th position player in club history to homer for his first career hit...Became the 11th player in AL history to homer in his major league debut off the bench, first since SEA Greg Dobbs on Sept. 8, 2004 vs. CLE (pinch-hit homer in ninth inning)…became the second catcher in AL history to enter as a reserve and homer in his major league debut, joining OAK Terry Steinbach on Sept. 12, 1986 at CLE...Hit .266/.320/.521 (75-for-282) with 26 2B, 14 HR and 54 RBI for Triple-A Durham…hit .351 (27-for77) vs. LHP and .281 (25-for-89) with RISP...Threw out 25.8 pct. (16 of 62) of attempted base stealers with Durham...Started both of the Bulls postseason games and went 4-for-10 with one 2B and four RBI…hit a go-ahead single in the ninth inning of the Triple-A National Championship Game against Reno...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 14 prospect in the Rays system following the season… the publication also tabbed him as the Best Defensive Catcher in the organization.

2021

Split the season between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham, earning a July 6 promotion…hit .274/.325/.500 (97-for-354) with 20 HR and 60 RBI in 93 games between the two levels... His 20 HR more than doubled his career-high from 2016 (8)…ranked eighth among Rays minor leaguers in home runs and 10th in hits... Threw out 37.5 pct. (21 of 56) of attempted base stealers between the two levels…totaled 60 starts at catcher, seven starts at first base and 24 starts at designated hitter... Named to the Rays Organizational All-Star Team by MLB.com... Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 22 prospect in the Rays system following the season.

2020

Added to the Rays 60-man player pool on July 24 and spent the summer at the alternate training site in Port Charlotte.

2019

In his first career Double-A action, appeared in 77 games for Montgomery including 65 starts at catcher…hit .283/.362/.417 (17-for-60) with 8 2B and 24 RBI with RISP…hit .305/.337/.512 (25-for-82) with 8 2B, 3 HR and 15 RBI in his last 23 games.

2018

Limited to 72 games for Class-A Charlotte due to an April 13-May 8 stint on the injured list for a left hamstring strain…his .301 avg. was his best since 2015 (.323) and his 21 2B were a career high…played 15 games for the Navegantes del Magallanes in the Venezuelan Winter League… ranked by Baseball America as the Best Defensive Catcher in the FSL in its Best Tools survey.

2017

Spent the entire season with Class-A Bowling Green, aside from a 4-game rehab assignment with the GCL Rays for a left wrist sprain… between the two levels, his 82 hits and 39 RBI were career highs…helped the Hot Rods make the postseason for a second consecutive year.

2016

Split the season between the GCL Rays and Rookie-level Princeton, batting .262/.304/.483 39-for-149) with a career-high 8 HR in 40 games… promoted on Aug 4 and homered in his first Appalachian League game, on Aug 6 at Pulaski (Yankees)…played 8 games for the Navegantes del Magallanes in the Venezuelan Winter League.

2015

Named Most Valuable Player for the VSL Rays by the Rays Baseball Operations department…spent a second consecutive season with the VSL Rays and led the league with a .323 avg., .552 SLG and 27 XBH…also ranked among league leaders in runs (42, 3rd), doubles (14, tied for 4th), triples (7, 2nd), home runs (6, tied for 2nd), RBI (38, 4th) and total bases (111, 2nd)…led qualifying VSL catchers in throwing out 47.9 pct. (23 of 48) of attempted base stealers…named to the Rays Organizational All-Star Team by MLB.com.

2014

Threw out 50.0 pct. (24 of 48) of attempted base stealers in his first professional season.