Andre Rienzo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #7 prospect in 2013
  Left off Chicago's 40-man roster following a disappointing 2011 season, Rienzo didn't endear himself to the club when he got hit with a 50-game suspension in April for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Once he returned, he pitched well in Double-A and the Arizona Fall League. Brazil tabbed him to pitch for its World Baseball Classic team, and he could be the first pitcher from his nation to reach the majors. Rienzo's fastball usually sits it the low 90s and touches 95 mph, running in on lefthanders. Improved secondary pitches helped him hold opponents to a .206 average in 2012. He throws his overhand curveball in the upper 70s, getting swings and misses. He has started to use his low-80s cutter more often, and it too has been effective. Rienzo hasn't added much size or strength since signing, and his ultra-thin build doesn't fit the profile of a big league starter. Neither does his lack of command or an effective changeup. Rienzo is knocking on the door of the big leagues. His work in Triple-A in 2013 will determine whether he arrives as a starter or reliever. His most realistic ceiling is as a set-up man, but he also could be a No. 4 starter.
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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #17 prospect in 2012
  The White Sox remain intrigued by Rienzo's arm strength, though they didn't see as much improvement as they hoped for last season in his secondary pitches. Chicago opted not to add him to its 40-man roster, and was relieved when other teams decided he was too raw to select in the Rule 5 draft. Rienzo has overpowered lower-level hitters with his fastball, which sits in the low 90s and rarely straightens out. He has better command than his 66 walks in 116 innings last year would indicate. He had trouble finding the strike zone because the White Sox insisted he throw more curveballs and sliders. He still hasn't found a go-to breaking pitch, generally throwing slurves that break early and don't fool hitters. He sometimes telegraphs his changeup, which would be more effective if he could take something off it and throw it in the high 70s rather than the low 80s. Rienzo will move up to Double-A and needs to make strides rounding out his repertoire in 2012.
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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #25 prospect in 2011
  An organization lacking pitching depth found a young arm to fall in love with when Rienzo used his raw stuff to dominate low Class A hitters in the second half of 2010. He was especially locked in late in the season, holding opponents to two runs or fewer in each of his last 10 starts, including a 10-strikeout, no-walk game against Asheville. Rienzo throws his 88-92 mph fastball with good angle, and his curveball has sharp downward break when it's on. His changeup needs work but could become an average pitch. He's athletic but has a long arm action and rushes his delivery, which hurts his command and consistency. He does show a knack for throwing strikes. Because he started the 2010 season conditioned to be a reliever, the White Sox held down his innings. They hope to get him to about 150 innings in 2011, when he'll pitch in high Class A.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Left off Chicago's 40-man roster following a disappointing 2011 season, Rienzo didn't endear himself to the club when he got hit with a 50-game suspension in April for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Once he returned, he pitched well in Double-A and the Arizona Fall League. Brazil tabbed him to pitch for its World Baseball Classic team, and he could be the first pitcher from his nation to reach the majors. Scouting Report: Rienzo's fastball usually sits it the low 90s and touches 95, running in on lefthanders. But it was his improved secondary pitches that helped him hold opponents to a .206 average in 2012. He throws his overhand curveball in the upper 70s, getting swings and misses. He has started to use his low-80s cutter more often, and it too has been effective. Rienzo hasn't added much size or strength since signing, and his ultra-thin build doesn't fit the profile of a big league starter. Neither does his lack of command or an effective changeup. The Future: Rienzo is knocking on the door of the big leagues. His work in Triple-A in 2013 will determine whether he arrives as a starter or reliever. His most realistic ceiling is as a set-up man, but he also could be a No. 4 starter.