SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Former BYU infielder Andrew Pintar was named Arizona Fall League Defensive Player of the Year, the MLB announced on Nov. 16.
Pintar, now an outfielder in the Miami Marlins organization, manned the leadoff spot for the Peoria Javelinas in fall league play. The Spanish Fork, Utah native tied for fourth in hits (29) and runs scored (21) in the AFL, while notching three assists and playing error-free in 51 defensive chances. Pintar made a name for himself in fall ball with several diving and sliding, run-robbing grabs from his centerfield spot with the Javelinas.
Pintar, now the Marlins’ 18th-ranked prospect, began the 2024 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ High-A affiliate Hillsboro Hops. While with the Hops, Pintar garnered Northwest League Player of the Week on April 28 and capped the 2024 campaign with High-A Post-Season All-Star honors.
After joining the Diamondbacks’ Double-A affiliate Amarillo Sod Poodles, Pintar was acquired by the Marlins’ organization in a July 25 trade and assigned to the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Pintar finished his 2024 minor league season with 60 runs on 99 hits, including nine home runs and 46 RBI in 388 at bats.
Following three seasons at BYU (2020-22), Pintar became the first of four Cougars taken in the 2022 MLB Draft when he was selected by the Diamondbacks in the fifth round with the 138th overall pick.
Despite an injury limiting him to just 17 games in the lineup at BYU in 2022, Pintar’s draft stock rocketed after a stellar freshman season in 2021.
Pintar earned 2021 Collegiate Baseball News Freshman All-America honors and was named West Coast Conference Co-Freshman of the Year while finishing top-10 in league play in total bases (72), hits (38), home runs (9), slugging percentage (.686), batting average (.362), RBI (23) and triples (3). Pintar’s 2021 campaign was further highlighted by both Collegiate Baseball News National Player of the Week and WCC Player of the Week honors.