Andre Rienzo

Rienzo bounced between the White Sox's rotation and bullpen for the first three months of the season, and then alternated between the majors and Triple-A for the remainder of the year. His somewhat unconventional delivery could be a boon for strikeouts, but his stuff is generally too hittable to be effective. He should be in the running for a rotation spot out of spring training, but it is more realistic to expect him to serve in a swing role once others get injured.

Rienzo looked like a bust after a failed World Baseball Classic campaign and a disastrous spring training, but he wound up making 10 starts for the White Sox after Jake Peavy left the rotation. Unforunately, Rienzo did not bring his strikeout rate with him to the majors. An unconventional delivery and a heavy-break curveball helped him to a 9.3 K/9 over 119.2 Triple-A innings, but he struggled to throw that curve for strikes at the big league level, and opposing batters hit .324 off his fastball. He will need to improve upon both of those pitches if he is to enjoy success at the major league level. He should get a shot to land a job in the major league rotation out of camp, and Rienzo should be up later in the season if he loses out on that battle.

Rienzo is the latest fast-rising pitcher through the White Sox's organization, earning a 40-man roster spot in November after starting 2012 as a non-prospect at High-A. In between, he struck out 113 in 103.1 innings between three minor league levels. He also served a 50-game suspension for a positive PED test, but he continued to build on his improved command upon returning. Rienzo plans to pitch for Brazil in the World Baseball Classic, which could affect his workload in 2013.