Pintaro was born in Pelham, Alabama, and pitched for five seasons from 2017-22 at Shorter University, a small, private Baptist school in Georgia. The right-hander was toiling in independent ball for a second consecutive season when the Mets signed him to a minor league deal in June 2024.

Glacier Range Riders president Chris Kelly knew a Mets scout had traveled to watch Pintaro make a Pioneer League start last June, and that the Mets were interested in potentially purchasing his contract, but by the time the third inning arrived, the scout saw enough to sign him mid-game.