A COUPLE of months ago, while talking about the productive season that a number of the Phillies affiliates were having, former general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. beamed in particular when the name of Clearwater righthander Ricardo Pinto was mentioned.
More than a few others have had similar reactions when the 21-year-old Venezuelan has come up in conversation. Their eyes grow big, as if they were the kid at Christmas who finds a gift hidden back in the far corner under the tree well after the presents have been opened.
Pinto is no longer a hidden gem, however.