Andre Rienzo expected to become first Brazilian to pitch in MLB on Tuesday

Andre Rienzo is expected to pitch Tuesday night against the Indians, which would make him the first Brazilian to ever pitch in an MLB game. (Rich Pilling/Getty
Andre Rienzo expected to become first Brazilian to pitch in MLB on Tuesday
Andre Rienzo expected to become first Brazilian to pitch in MLB on Tuesday /

Andre Rienzo is expected to pitch Tuesday night against the Indians, which would make him the first Brazilian to ever pitch in an MLB game. (Rich Pilling/Getty Images)

Andre Rienzo is expected to pitch Tuesday night against the Indians,  which would make him the first Brazilian ever to pitch in an MLB game. (Rich Pilling/Getty Images)

The Chicago White Sox are expected to promote Andre Rienzo to the majors for a start in Tuesday night's game against the Cleveland Indians, which would make the 25-year-old the first Brazilian to ever pitch in Major League Baseball history, according to Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune.

Rienzo has made his last four starts with Triple-A Charlotte, allowing four runs on 11 hits and striking out 28 in 29 1/3 innings. In spring training, he allowed seven runs on six hits in three innings during two appearances. However, part of his early troubles could be attributed to his involvement with Brazil in the World Baseball Classic. In the WBC, he pitched four hitless innings against Cuba before reaching his limit and got pulled in the fifth.  As Gonzales observed, "Rienzo features a fastball in the 94 mph range, but his out pitch is a sharp curve with plenty of tilt."

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The expected move to put him on the mound Tuesday evening against the Indians has fueled further speculation that the White Sox are looking to entertain offers for pitcher Jake Peavy before the non-waiver trade deadline at 3 p.m.  Wednesday. On Monday, however, ESPN's Buster Olney reported that the White Sox are telling teams Peavy is off the market and that they will instead "build around him."

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