Heidenreich Back in the Sox Organization…
Matt Heidenreich was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the fourth round of the 2009 draft. Now, the California native is back in the organization.
Heidenreich, who spent parts of the last three seasons in the Houston Astros organization, signed a Minor League contract with the White Sox on December 1. The signing comes less than two months after the 23-year-old was released by Houston — the team that dealt Brett Myers to the White Sox for him on July 21, 2012.
The 6'5" right-hander played for two teams last season while in Houston’s system. He went 3–4 with a 5.40 ERA and two saves in 16 games (6 starts) for High-A Lancaster and 1–0 with an 8.02 ERA and one save in 12 games (five starts) with Double-A Corpus Christi.
Heidenreich started his professional career with Rookie Bristol in 2009 and compiled a 0–1 record with a 4.50 ERA in 16 games. The following season, Heidenreich went 6–2 with a 2.49 ERA in 14 games for Bristol. His 2.49 ERA was tied for second in the league, while his 76 innings pitched ranked third. He also appeared in one game for Kannapolis (A) in 2010 (1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 R, 2 SO).
In 2011, Heidenreich went 10–10 with a 4.32 ERA in 27 games for Kannapolis. He ranked third in the South Atlantic League in wins and fourth in innings pitched (154.1).
One season later, Heidenreich became a mid-season All-Star for the first time. After compiling a 5–2 record with a 4.29 ERA in 12 starts for Winston-Salem (A+), Heidenreich was one of three Dash players selected as a Carolina League All-Star. At the time, he was tied for fourth in wins and he was sixth in innings pitched (71.1). Overall with the Dash that season — before he was promoted to Double-A Birmingham — Heidenreich went 8–2 with a 3.57 ERA in 15 games. He then posted a 1–2 record with a 5.89 ERA in three starts for the Barons before eventually being part of the trade that brought Myers to Chicago.
In six Minor League seasons, Heidenreich is 36–27 with a 4.74 ERA with three saves over 142 games (82 starts). He’s tossed 552 innings pitched and has fanned 395 batters.
