Miami Marlins History: All-Time Top 10 K/9

9) Renyel Pinto (8.65)

Renyel Pinto was a 6’4″, 280 lb. left-handed pitcher out of Cupira, Venezuela. Born on July 8th, 1982, he was signed through international free agency in 1999 by the Chicago Cubs.

Pinto worked his way up through the Cubbies system with the Arizona Cubs in 2000, making stops with the Lansing Lugnuts, the Daytona Cubs, the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, and the Iowa Cubs. After the 2005 campaign, the Cubs sent him, Ricky Nolasco, and Sergio Mitre to the Florida Marlins for Juan Pierre.

In Pinto’s 2006 season, he split the year between the Albuquerque Isotopes and the Marlins. For Florida, he appeared in 27 games in relief, posting a 3.03 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. He also collected 36 strikeouts in just 29 2/3 innings. That’s a figure that would have led the team had he played a few more frames.

In 2007, Pinto enjoyed his official rookie season, getting into 57 contests for the Marlins. He struck out 56 in 58 2/3 innings, dropped his WHIP to a career best 1.313, and kept his ERA down to 3.68. He walked a few more batters than he should have been comfortable with (32), but also allowed a team-second-best 6.9 H/9.

In 2008, Pinto went 2-5 in 67 games, with a 1.407 WHIP and 56 K’s in 64 2/3 innings. He posted a career-worst 4.45 ERA, reflected by his career-worst 5.20 FIP. He also finished with a ERA+ below “average” for the only time in his career, finishing at 98.

Pinto rebounded in 2009, going 4-1 with a 3.23 ERA in a career-high 73 games. He struck out 58 in 61 1/3 innings pitched, and limited opposing batters to a 1.598 WHIP. Pinto split his final major league season between Florida and their minor leagues. He struck out 16 more batters at the major league level in 16 2/3 innings.

Pinto was released by the Florida Marlins in June of 2010, and didn’t sign another contract anywhere.