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Phillies recall Ricardo Pinto with Vince Velasquez ailing

By George Stockburger

Feb 25, 2017; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ricardo Pinto (73) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Spectrum Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ricardo Pinto (73) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Spectrum Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Fans will see if the Phillies give Pinto a chance to start, or if he’s just a bullpen holdover

More discouraging news comes across the wire for Phillies fans as Vince Velasquez heads to the disabled list with a right elbow flexor strain.

Replacing Velasquez on the 25-man roster is Ricardo Pinto, a 23-year-old right-hander from Lehigh Valley, who’ll wear the #51 formerly owned by Carlos Ruiz.

It’s unlikely Pinto sees any immediate action on the mound for Philadelphia, a move similar to Ben Lively’s call-up earlier in the season.

May 28, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (56) gets a new baseball after allowing home run by Cincinnati Reds left fielder Adam Duvall (23) (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (56) gets a new baseball after allowing home run by Cincinnati Reds left fielder Adam Duvall (23) (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Pinto is likely to sit in the bullpen and learn from the major league arms until Zach Eflin’s turn in the rotation arrives this weekend. Whether Pinto starts in place of Eflin, now in Lehigh Valley, is to be seen.

If Pinto is to start for Eflin or Velasquez the Phillies must call upon another arm to fill out the five-man rotation. Three of the team’s five starters on the opening day roster have hit the disabled list this year (Aaron Nola, Vince Velasquez, Clay Buchholz) and the road between Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia has been traveled heavily.

Pinto is 3-3 with a 5.53 ERA for Lehigh Valley this season, hinting towards him not getting a major league start soon. It’s a possibility Pinto comes out of the bullpen if a starter can not get past the early innings once again.

Next: Why the prospects aren't here

Ben Lively is expected to get his first major league start within the next week with Eflin and Velasquez out for the time being. After that, the Phillies can pick between Pinto, Jake Thompson, Adam Morgan, Mark Appel, or even Eflin to fill Velasquez spot in the rotation for what’s likely to be the long-term.

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