Hurler Pino flourishing in swing role

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Over the course of a complete Triple-A baseball season, the amount of changes to a pitching staff due to call-ups, injuries and various other factors makes for a revolving door of viable arms. There is a constant need for pitchers that can take on various roles and embrace the challenge of the volatility that the season brings.

One pitcher that has aptly filled the Louisville Bats' need for a swing role this year has been Yohan Pino, a 29-year-old right-hander that was signed by the Reds organization in January after an eight-year Minor League career in three different organizations. Since being called up from Double-A two weeks into the season, Pino has been stellar with Louisville, capably filling the team's need for a starter, reliever and closer over the course of the 2013 campaign.

Pino's ninth season as a professional has arguably been his best, as the 6-foot-2 hurler has been lights out despite having to work in various capacities. In 15 appearances out of the Louisville bullpen, Pino has a sterling 2.60 ERA, while also posting an impressive 2.82 ERA in 11 starts. Thanks in part to Pino's steady play, the Bats pitching staff ranks among the International League leaders in most statistical categories, and has remained the team's biggest strength as they attempt to make a playoff push over the season's final month.

Over the first two months of the season, Pino primarily worked out of the Bats bullpen and became the team's primary option as a closer. Although the righty had rarely worked late inning situations throughout his career, he filled in admirably, earning saves in six consecutive opportunities, starting with his first career Triple-A save on May 7 in a 6-4 victory over Lehigh Valley. It was the first save Pino had registered since he was in Single-A in 2006.

Around the middle of June, Pino's role with the Bats transitioned into primarily that of a starter, and the veteran has stepped up his game over the past month with the season entering its final portion. During a July 20 start against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pino began a string of 25 consecutive scoreless innings pitched. The streak, which was the third longest in Louisville franchise history, included a two-hit, complete game shutout over Syracuse on July 25. The shutout was one of 12 for Louisville pitchers (complete game or combined) this season, a mark that leads the league. As an encore, Pino extended his scoreless streak in his next start, leading the Bats to another shutout in a 3-0 victory.

Pino's second consecutive scoreless outing wrapped up a fantastic month of July, where he yielded a meager 1.24 ERA in five starts while holding opposing batters to a paltry .186 average. The outstanding performances have carried into August, as Pino fanned nine in 6.1 innings to help the Bats to a 6-4 victory over division leader Indianapolis during his last start on Tuesday night. Over the last six weeks, the Venezuelan native has pitched so well that he hasn't been hit with a loss since late June.

It has been a long and winding journey through the minor leagues for Pino, but his first season in the Reds organization has brought him the most Triple-A success of his professional career. After working in the Twins, Indians and Blue Jays organizations over the past eight years, Pino seems to have found a nice niche as a utility pitcher of sorts with the Bats. While it remains to be seen what will happen in 2014, the organization has to be pleased with the performance of Pino in such a variable and unpredictable role over the course of this season.