During the 1989–90 season, a week before turning 19, Johan Cruyff gave him the chance to make his La Liga debut, on 18 February 1990 in a match against Rayo Vallecano: he appeared 25 minutes in the 4–1 away win, having come on as a substitute for Julio Salinas.

[2] However, strong competition in the emerging Dream Team meant Pinilla had to leave Barça on loan, and he joined RCD Mallorca, scoring four goals in a season which ended in top flight relegation.

His seven goals, however, proved insufficient to prevent the team from being immediately relegated; in addition, a serious knee injury in the final months of the campaign forced him into the operating room which led two a six-month period of inactivity, in turn prompting his release.

Pinilla served as captain during Gimnàstic's short-lived spell in the top division, netting twice from 28 appearances for the last-ranked team, against RCD Espanyol (4–0 at home) and against Athletic Bilbao (2–0, away).

At the end of the 2007–08 season, after helping Nàstic retain its second tier status, Pinilla announced his retirement after having competed in 200 games overall with the club,[6] promptly being named its general manager[7] and leaving the post in early February 2010.