Ken Vining

Kenneth Edward Vining (born December 5, 1974) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher. Vining played for the Chicago White Sox during the 2001 season. In 8 career games, he posted an 0–0 record and an earned run average (ERA) of 17.55. Vining batted and threw left-handed.

Amateur career

Vining attended Cardinal Newman High School in Columbia, South Carolina. He was a 62nd–round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians in the 1993 draft, but he went to Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina instead of signing with Cleveland. The following year, he saw action in 22 games, making 9 starts. He had a 4–0 record, two saves, and a 3.39 ERA.

Professional career

During the 1996 Major League Baseball draft, the San Francisco Giants selected Vining in the 4th round. He officially joined their organization on June 28.

Vining began the 1997 season with the San Jose Giants of the Single–A California League. In 23 starts, Vining went 9–6 with a 4.21 ERA. He recorded 142 strikeouts and 60 walks over 136.2 innings. Now a member of the White Sox organization, Vining finished the year by making 5 starts for the Single–A Winston–Salem Warthogs. He had a 2–2 record and an ERA of 2.86. He faced two batters, and recorded his first MLB strikeout against Tony Batista. In 8 appearances with the White Sox, Vining surrendered 13 earned runs over 6.2 innings, amassing an ERA of 17.55. He made his final major league appearance on July 5.

Vining spent the 2002 season with Charlotte, posting a 2.87 ERA over 44 appearances (47 innings). He had a 2–5 record, walked 25, and struck out 35. He left the White Sox organization after the season and signed with the Houston Astros on November 6.

During the 2003 season, Vining made 41 appearances, including 6 starts, for Houston's Triple–A affiliate, the New Orleans Zephyrs. In 64 innings, he had a 5.20 ERA, struck out 30 batters, walked 22, and tallied a 3–5 record. He was released by the Astros organization on August 22.