Aaron Pinto is a 2018 graduate of Stony Brook University, where he was a dominant closer for the Sea Wolves. Despite being a 6’0 RHP, which has traditionally been an obstacle to overcome for aspiring professional pitchers, he was selected in the 24th round by the Cleveland Indians. The week prior, he was dominant in our Axcess Invitational, in which he was one of four players to get selected in the MLB Draft. He has made Cleveland look very smart for believing in him as he posted a 6-1 record with a 1.57 ERA over 74.1 IP. With his mid 90s fastball coupled with his outstanding change up, do not bet against him continuing the rise in the Cleveland system.
I had a chance to speak with him and here’s what he had to say…
Can you explain the path that led you to Stony Brook from California? Was it a tough decision to move across the country? What was the determining factor?
I was first contacted by Stony Brook the summer going into my senior year of high school. I was in a tournament in Georgia and Joe Penucci had watched an outing of mine. They contacted me the next day and asked if I have ever heard of the school. Initially, I said no and he continued to explain the success of the program has had including the 2012 CWS trip and the good amount of California players they had. Soon after the trip my family and I began doing research on the school and the baseball program. A few months later in November they saw me pitch again in Jupiter, FL. After that outing, Matt Senk reached out to my family and asked if I would like to attend and play at Ston Brook. The decision to finally go to Stony Brook was a very tough decision for me and my family. The ultimately determining factor though was the program itself and the culture they expressed to me when I visited. MY parents and I knew I would be given every opportunity to go out and compete.
Who were some of your favorite athletes growing up and why?
Some of my favorite athletes growing up were Nomar Garciaparra and Mariano Rivera. Garciaparra was my favorite position player growing up because at that time I played the same positions as he did and he played for the Dodgers. As I slowly began pitching more and more growing up I wanted to mirror Mariano. I liked the way he went about his business; calm, relaxed and always ready to compete no matter the situation.
Who are the most influential people in your life?
The most influential people in my life would have to be my parents and in my profession Coach John Lewis from Stony Brook. My parents, at a young age, always influenced me to work hard and never give up no matter how hard things get, make the best out of every opportunity I was given and when things didn’t go my way to shake it off and be ready for tomorrow. Lewis played a big role of influence my senior year at Stony Brook by pushing me out of my comfort zone and telling me to push for goals past college. He constantly worked with me and allowed me to create a work ethic I still carry with me to this day, always believe in my abilities and leave it all out on the field.
Can you explain why closing games can be so difficult for some pitchers that are generally very talented? Do you think your calm demeanor fits you well for it?
I believe closing games can be very difficult for some pitchers because it is very hard to turn a competitive switch on so quickly and the ability to control emotions and forget about what happened beforehand or possibly the day before. I definitely think my calm demeanor fits me well for that. I don’t let situations get too big for me and slow the game down.
Can you describe draft day 2018 when your name was called? What was that day like?
Draft day 2018 was a very stressful day for me. I had spoken to a few teams but was unsure when or even if I would hear my name. Day 3 came and my entire were watching names go by and the rounds pass by. About 1-2 hours into the draft I received a call from my Coach Jim Martin and John Lewis separately asking if the Indians select me am I willing to sign and play. Shortly around the 15th round the Indians scout called me and told me that the organization is looking to draft me soon as long as I am willing to sign and play. In the 24th round pick 733 the Indians selected me. This was by far the happiest moment of my life. I was speechless at that very moment.
We hear a lot about spin rate, perceived velocity and things of that nature all the time. From your perspective, is that something that has helped you maximize your potential or you like to keep things simple and let it fly?
From my perspective, all those factors have helped me maximize my potential both on the mound and mentally. Each one has helped me better understand myself as a pitcher. They also helped me better understand how my stuff works and how I can use my stuff to my advantage. It is a big learning experience that has helped me a lot.
The minor leagues is a long season and a long path to the big leagues but you had an outstanding 2019 season. What are your goals for 2020?
My goals for the 2020 season will be undoubtedly to stay healthy, build on consistency out of the pen, and ultimately increase my strikeout percentage from last year.
Were there any teammates or coaches that really helped you acclimate to professional baseball?
Yes, definitely. I had quite a few teammates as well as my two managers and two pitching coaches from both teams that helped me acclimate to professional baseball. My teammates provided more of personal tips that helped me understand the season and how I should approach it day in and day out. My managers and pitching coaches supplied me with resources and knowledge from their experiences on what I could do and not do to acclimate.
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