Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

Signed for $400,000 out of Venezuela in 2018, Pinango debuted the next year and led the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League with 86 hits while placing fourth in the batting race at .358. After the pandemic shutdown, the Cubs jumped him to Single-A shortly before his 19th birthday in 2021. He hadn't shown much power until 2024, when he has made some swing changes during his third straight season in High-A. Following a promotion, he performed like an average hitter for Double-A Tennessee before being moved to the Blue Jays in late July in a deal for Nate Pearson.

Pinango has some of the better bat-to-ball skills in the system, but in the past they translated into substandard contact and cut into his walk totals. He's now using a wider stance, loading his hands better and keeping his quick left-handed stroke in the zone longer. He's also making improved swing decisions, helping him to turn on more pitches and hit them harder than before.

With his high baseball IQ, Pinango makes the most of his average speed, arm and outfield range. He can steal an occasional base but fits best in left field, which put more demands on his bat. If he can get to 20 or more homers a year he might be a regular, though he profiles more as a fourth outfielder.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45 

After signing for $400,000 out of Venezuela in 2018, Pinango debuted the next year by leading the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in hits (86) and placing fourth in the batting race (.358). Though he lost the 2020 season to the pandemic shutdown, the Cubs thought enough of his hitting ability to have him make his U.S. debut in Low-A three days before he turned 19 in late May. He earned a promotion to High-A in August and batted .276 between the two stops.

Pinango has some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the system and is extremely advanced at the plate for his age, making good swing decisions and using the entire field. He has a quick left-handed stroke and is doing a better job of lifting balls in the air in 2022, showing the potential for 15-20 homers per season. He puts the ball in play so easily that it cuts into his walk totals.

Pinango's speed, arm and range all grade as average, and his high baseball IQ enables him to make the most of them. He can steal an occasional base, gets the job done in left field and has just enough arm and accuracy to get by in right. He comes with a high floor, but it remains to be seen whether he'll make enough impact to profile as a regular corner outfielder on a contender. 

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Signed for $400,000 out of Venezuela in 2018, Pinango led the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in hits (86) and finished fourth in batting (.358) during his pro debut the next summer. The coronavirus pandemic eliminated the plan for him to make his U.S. debut in 2020, when he was limited to instructional league.  

Pinango has one of the smoothest left-handed swings among Cubs prospects and is one of the most advanced young hitters in the system. He doesn't try to do too much at the plate, and he controls the strike zone and uses the opposite field extremely well. While he didn't homer in his introduction to pro ball, he has some raw power and should provide 12-15 homers per season as he gets stronger and learns to turn on pitches and launch them in the air more frequently. 

Pinango showed solid speed and a knack for stealing bases in the DSL, swiping 27 bases in 62 games. He's a decent defender with room for improvement in center field, though he might have to move if he slows down as he matures physically. He has average arm strength and could wind up in left field.

Awards

MID Player of the Week

Week	Team
05/12/2024
07/17/2022

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2021

DSL Mid-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2019

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	11/12/2024	LF Yohendrick Pinango assigned to Cardenales de Lara.
	07/31/2024	New Hampshire Fisher Cats activated OF Yohendrick Pinango.
	07/27/2024	Toronto Blue Jays traded RHP Nate Pearson to Chicago Cubs for SS Josh Rivera and OF Yohendrick Pinango.
	07/27/2024	OF Yohendrick Pinango assigned to New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
	05/14/2024	OF Yohendrick Pinango assigned to Tennessee Smokies from South Bend Cubs.
	03/04/2024	OF Yohendrick Pinango assigned to Chicago Cubs.
	06/30/2023	South Bend Cubs activated OF Yohendrick Pinango.
	06/25/2023	OF Yohendrick Pinango roster status changed by South Bend Cubs.
	02/27/2023	OF Yohendrick Pinango roster status changed by Chicago Cubs.
	02/27/2023	OF Yohendrick Pinango assigned to Chicago Cubs.
	08/24/2021	OF Yohendrick Pinango assigned to South Bend Cubs from Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
	05/02/2021	OF Yohendrick Pinango assigned to Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
	05/02/2021	OF Yohendrick Pinango assigned to Myrtle Beach Pelicans from AZL Cubs Red.
	05/02/2021	OF Yohendrick Pinango assigned to Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
	08/30/2019	OF Yohendrick Pinango assigned to AZL Cubs 2 from DSL Cubs1.
	07/13/2019	OF Yohendrick Pinango assigned to DSL NL All-Stars.
	05/31/2019	OF Yohendrick Pinango assigned to DSL Cubs1.
	07/02/2018	Chicago Cubs signed free agent OF Yohendrick Pinango to a minor league contract.