Rockies Go With HS Hurler In Pint

DENVER—The Rockies took righthander Riley Pint, whose fastball has regularly hit triple-digits, with the fourth overall pick in the draft.

Pint, who is from St. Thomas Aquinas High in Overland Park, Kan., is the first high school pitcher the Rockies have with their first pick since they selected lefthander Tyler Matzek No. 11 overall in 2009.

It is the second consecutive year the Rockies have taken a high school pitcher in the first round. Last year, when the Rockies had two picks in the first round, they selected Mike Nikorak No. 27 overall after taking shortstop Brendan Rodgers with the third overall pick.

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Pint led his high school to the Kansas 5A state championship and went 6-1 with a 0.50 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 42 innings during the regular season. His fastball has touched 102 mph and has frequently hit 100 mph. He’ll sit at 97-98 mph with the pitch but is by no means focused on velocity.

“I think that’s one of the things I’m asked most: How hard do you throw?” Pint said. “But I really just go out there and try to pitch. I’m not trying to light up radar guns or anything. I’m just going out there and pitching my game and trying to get hitters out.”

In addition to a two- and four-seam fastball, Pint said his repertoire includes a circle change, a knuckle-curve that has sideways action like a slider and a traditional curve that has more of a 12-to-6 break and that he just started throwing this year.

“I think my changeup and my knuckle curve are probably the most developed offspeed pitches that I have right now,” Pint said. “My traditional curveball, that’s still a work in progress, but I like the way it’s come along this year. It’s looking pretty good for me right now, so I’m really happy about that.”

Scouting reports suggest mechanical adjustments might be in store for Pint, but the Rockies see it more as a matter of refinement.

“We’re not talking about some re-make or overhaul situation here,” general manager Jeff Bridich said. “We have to remember this is still a young kid, and as well as we feel like we know him, we haven’t lived with him. So we have to live with him first before we start making decisions like that.”

Pint said he is 6-foot-5 and weighs 210 to 212 pounds. Bridich said Pint can add strength.

“Strength doesn’t always equal weight,” Bridich said. “But he has a great frame. He carries the frame very well. He’s very athletic and can move that frame around very well for as tall as he is already.”

ROCKY ROADS

• With the 38th overall pick the Rockies selected Georgia righthander Robert Tyler. Tyler is listed at 6-foot-4 and 226 pounds and went 3-5 with a 4.10 ERA in 14 starts this year with 89 strikeouts in 75 innings.

• The Rockies took lefthanded reliever Ben Bowden from Vanderbilt in the second round with the 45th pick. Listed at 6-3 and 252 pounds, Bowden opened the season in Vanderbilt’s rotation before becoming the team’s closer. He will begin his pro career in relief.