Thu Jun 26 01:40:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Jonathan Pintaro, a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher, has made an improbable journey to the New York Mets’ major league roster. After going undrafted from a Division II college, he spent time in independent leagues, including the Pioneer League’s Glacier Range Riders. The Mets signed him to a minor league deal in June 2024. After a strong performance in the Mets’ farm system and the Arizona Fall League, Pintaro was promoted to Double-A and then Triple-A before receiving a surprising call-up to the majors. He is now looking to make his MLB debut as the Mets shuffle their bullpen. Manager Carlos Mendoza sees Pintaro as a valuable addition who can provide length and has a unique pitching style.

**News Article:**

**From Independent Ball to the Big Apple: Jonathan Pintaro’s Improbable Journey to the Mets**

NEW YORK — In a story that epitomizes perseverance, 27-year-old Jonathan Pintaro has defied the odds to join the New York Mets’ major league roster. Pintaro’s path to the majors has been far from conventional. Undrafted out of Shorter University, a Division II school in Georgia, he toiled in independent leagues, most recently with the Glacier Range Riders of the Pioneer League.

“I think this is an organizational win, when you’re talking about a kid that was pitching independent ball last year,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “Credit to him. Obviously, it’s not easy what he did.”

Pintaro’s unexpected promotion comes as the Mets reshuffle their bullpen, designating left-handers Jose Castillo and Richard Lovelady for assignment. Pintaro, who signed a minor league deal with the Mets in June 2024, was recently promoted to Triple-A Syracuse before being rerouted to New York City.

“There was a mix of emotions,” Pintaro said, recalling the moment he received the call. “I called my family and we were all crying because I finally got signed.”

After a solid year in the Mets’ farm system and a stint in the Arizona Fall League, Pintaro had been pitching well at Double-A Binghamton, posting a 3.40 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 42⅓ innings. Mendoza lauded Pintaro’s unique delivery and ability to provide length out of the bullpen.

“This is a kid that continues to get people out,” Mendoza said. “It’s kind of like a funky delivery, you know? Got a combination of a sinker and a cutter… This is a guy that can give us up to 75-80 pitches if we need to.”

For Pintaro, the journey has been a dream come true. “It’s been unreal,” he told reporters. “It’s been a dream come true. I did six years of college and then I was like, all right, nothing happened. So I went to indy ball in Montana, I was like, I’ll give it one or two more years, see how it goes. That second year, it happened.”

Pintaro is now poised to make his major league debut.

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