Colorado Rockies Top 25 Under 25: No. 13: Riley Pint

Welcome to the BSN Denver Colorado Rockies Top 25 Under 25 where we will rank the organization’s best players who will be 25 years-old or younger on Opening Day 2017.

Our parameters for this list may be different than others it resembles so let us be clear about them:

1. The list was created entirely by the BSN Rockies staff and had no other input from any outside sources.
2. While giving credit for overall (or trade) value, we prioritized an ability to help the MLB club win immediately.
3. In accordance with this, we also prioritized players with fewer question marks but potentially lower ceilings.
4. Statistics were considered on equal level with scouting reports in addition to our own field reporting.

Our observations come through a combination of spending parts of each of the past four (going on five) seasons on the ground on the backfields at spring training and through our regular reporting from Rookie Level Grand Junction, talking to coaches, scouts, and journalists both on and off the record. Of course, countless hours are spent on MiLB.tv and combing over public reports from other credible sources.

No. 13: Riley Pint, 19 (RHP)

What is the absolute highest one could rank a 19-year-old kid who hasn’t thrown a pitch above Rookie ball? Well, according to us here at BSN Denver, No. 13 was as high as we could go.

This is the perfect time for a reminder that this list is not a ranking of overall/trade value. If it was, you would be hard pressed to keep Pint out of the Top 5. He has an electric fastball that we ourselves have witnessed touching 102 mph, which led to Baseball Prospectus labeling Pint with the best fastball in the organization. This was no surprise. What was a bit of a shock, however, was BP’s reveal that they also believe Pint to have the best change-up in the system.

This scouting report is a bit reminiscent of Jon Gray who burst onto the professional scene with a strong fastball/slider combination and the general developmental goal of needing to refine his command. Pint doesn’t come in with the benefit of a few years of college like Gray did, and so his path should take a bit longer to traverse.

There isn’t a ton to break down about his professional career thus far, having pitched only 37 innings in 2016 and posting a very misleading 5.35 ERA. BSN Denver was at all of his home starts and through our observations and speaking with coaches and scouts, it was clear that Pint was working on adding some new elements to his game that he wasn’t fully comfortable with yet. That’s what the lower levels of the minors are for. If allowed to just go out and mow down kids with his fastball, his numbers would look much better but his development would stall. We caught up with him at the end of the season and he said he felt great and confident moving into 2017.

Everything from the live arm to the right attitude and complete lack of intimidation adds up to all the components of a potential star. We don’t expect him to debut any time soon, which was the biggest factor in where to place him on the list. A best case scenario still sees him two years out, but the fact that Pint could be positioned to join the Rockies right in the middle of their window of contention – and that he could do so with such immense firepower – means his immediate impact could even dwarf those who beat him to MLB by a matter of years.

Of course, every prospect is volatile, and that goes double for teenagers and pitchers. So, with Pint, we’ve got ourselves the trifecta.
But the Rockies also have an outstanding track record with their first-round picks going back to 2011. Tyler Anderson, David Dahl, Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland, and Brendan Rodgers all see their stocks skyrocketing and Riley Pint hopes to join them very soon.

And we at BSN Denver will not be betting against him.