By Theo DeRosa, Sports Talk Philly staff
The Phillies announced on Monday that they optioned right-handed reliever Edubray Ramos to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, recalling right-hander Ricardo Pinto from the IronPigs.
Ramos earned himself a spot in the 2017 bullpen to begin the year with a strong end to 2016, pitching to a 3.83 ERA in 40 innings that year. He's struggled in 2017 and especially of late, following up a 1.38 ERA in the month of May with an 11.42 mark in June. Though win-loss records hardly tell the whole story for pitchers, Ramos owns a 0-7 tally in 2017 and an ugly 5.52 ERA.
Pinto, a starter in the minors, was converted into a reliever when the Phils first brought him up for a mop-up role in Miami. He only pitched two innings in the majors, but allowed six hits and four runs. In Triple-A in 2017, Pinto owns a 4.39 ERA in 53.1 innings pitched.
Out of the bullpen, Crashburn Alley's Matt Winkelman notes, Pinto has been more effective.
Ricardo Pinto as a reliever in AAA: 13.1 IP 6 H 0 R 1 BB 10 K
— Matt Winkelman (@Matt_Winkelman) June 26, 2017
Before the 2017 season, MLB.com rated Pinto the No. 16 prospect in the Phillies organization. He should get plenty of looks out of a struggling bullpen that's missing Casey Fien, who's currently on the disabled list.
