John Rheinecker
Encyclopedia
John Philip Rheinecker is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
.
, and was a student and a letterman in baseball
. He grew up in Hecker, Illinois
and first starred at the Hecker Dome. In baseball, as a senior, he batted
.438 and as a pitcher, posted a 7-11 record and a 2.49 ERA
.
. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics
in .
After signing with the A's, Rheinecker spent the next four seasons in the organization's farm system. On March 31, , Oakland traded him (along with infielder
Freddie Bynum
) to the Texas Rangers for troubled pitcher Juan Dominguez.
A southpaw starting pitcher
, Rheinecker made his major league debut April 22, 2006, in a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
. On his 27th birthday (May 29, 2006, which was also Memorial Day
), Rheinecker made his second start for the Rangers, pitching 8 1/3 shutout
innings and earning his first major league win
. For most of the 2006 season, he was shuttled back and forth between the Rangers and their Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma RedHawks
.
During the April 27-30, , four game series at Toronto
, Rheinecker forgot his passport
, and thus could not play in the games.
Most recently, Rheinecker was diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
(TOS) and underwent surgery to remove a rib to alleviate the symptoms. Arthroscopic shoulder surgery was performed on May 24, , to clean up the shoulder joint and is said to sideline Rheinecker for another two to three weeks. Coincidentally, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is the same ailment that afflicted both Hank Blalock
and former Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers. This caused him to miss the entire season other than 2 minor league rehab starts. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
.
High school years
Rheinecker attended Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo, IllinoisWaterloo, Illinois
Waterloo is a city in Monroe County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,614 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County.-Geography:Waterloo is located at ....
, and was a student and a letterman in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. He grew up in Hecker, Illinois
Hecker, Illinois
Hecker is a village in Monroe County, Illinois, United States. The population was 475 at the 2000 census.- History :Hecker was originally named Freedom. The town was laid out on land of Theodore Hilgard. It was platted and surveyed by Thomas Singleton, county surveyor, December 18, 1840, the first...
and first starred at the Hecker Dome. In baseball, as a senior, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.438 and as a pitcher, posted a 7-11 record and a 2.49 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
College and professional career
Prior to playing professional baseball, Rheinecker attended Belleville Area Community College and Southwest Missouri StateMissouri State University
Missouri State University is a public university located in Springfield, Missouri, United States and founded in 1905. It is the state's second largest university, with an official enrollment of 20,802 in fall 2011...
. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in .
After signing with the A's, Rheinecker spent the next four seasons in the organization's farm system. On March 31, , Oakland traded him (along with infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
Freddie Bynum
Freddie Bynum
Freddie Lee Bynum Jr. is a shortstop playing in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He is known for his blazing speed and excellent defensive abilities which include the ability to field several different positions in the infield and outfield...
) to the Texas Rangers for troubled pitcher Juan Dominguez.
A southpaw starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, Rheinecker made his major league debut April 22, 2006, in a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. On his 27th birthday (May 29, 2006, which was also Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
), Rheinecker made his second start for the Rangers, pitching 8 1/3 shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
innings and earning his first major league win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
. For most of the 2006 season, he was shuttled back and forth between the Rangers and their Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma RedHawks
Oklahoma RedHawks
The Oklahoma City RedHawks are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros...
.
During the April 27-30, , four game series at Toronto
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, Rheinecker forgot his passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
, and thus could not play in the games.
Most recently, Rheinecker was diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Thoracic outlet syndrome
Thoracic outlet syndrome is a syndrome involving compression at the superior thoracic outlet involving compression of a neurovascular bundle passing between the anterior scalene and middle scalene...
(TOS) and underwent surgery to remove a rib to alleviate the symptoms. Arthroscopic shoulder surgery was performed on May 24, , to clean up the shoulder joint and is said to sideline Rheinecker for another two to three weeks. Coincidentally, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is the same ailment that afflicted both Hank Blalock
Hank Blalock
Hank Joe Blalock is a Major League Baseball third baseman who is currently a free agent.-High school:Blalock attended Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, California...
and former Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers. This caused him to miss the entire season other than 2 minor league rehab starts. He became a free agent at the end of the season.