Former major league pitcher John Rheinecker, who starred at Waterloo's Gibault High and made stops at Belleville Area College (Southwestern Illinois) and Southwest Missouri State (Missouri State) as he worked his way to becoming a first-round draft pick in 2001, died Tuesday in St. Louis.
He was 38.
The 6-foot-2 lefty from small-town Hecker made 20 starts and 44 total appearances for the Texas Rangers between 2006 and 2007. He finished with an 8-9 record and a 5.65 ERA. Thoracic outlet syndrome surgery and arthroscopic shoulder surgery contributed to the end of his major league career. Rheinecker turned pro after he was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round (37th pick) of the 2001 amateur draft.