Ranaudo was one of four children born to Angelo and Sharon Ranaudo. He was a New York Yankees fan growing up. He attended in Jackson Township, New Jersey and St. Rose High School in Belmar, New Jersey. During his time at St. Rose, he also played basketball and was president of the student council. Amassing numerous awards as a standout pitcher, Ranaudo was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 11th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft upon graduation, but did not sign a contract. Ranaudo attended Louisiana State University. He pitched for the LSU Tigers baseball team from 2008 through 2010. Entering his junior season in 2010, Ranaudo was seen by many as one of the top pitchers coming into the draft. However, he missed five weeks of the 2010 season due to an elbow injury. He had a standout year in 2009, third in NCAA strikeouts and was a critical player in the Tigers' College World Series victory. However, upon returning from the elbow injury in 2010, neither his numbers nor performance were the same as the previous year. Ranaudo also pitched twice in the Cape Cod Baseball League. After his freshman year he pitched for the Y-D Red Sox and then for the Brewster Whitecaps following his junior year. He dominated during his tenure with the Whitecaps, pitching to a 3–0 record, without giving up a run in 29.2 innings of 31/8 K/BB pitching.
Professional career
Draft and minor leagues
Ranaudo was selected 39th overall in the supplemental First Round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft by the Boston Red Sox. He signed with them for a $2.55 million signing bonus shortly before the signing deadline on August 16, 2010. Ranaudo was assigned first to the Red Soxminor league affiliate Lowell Spinners where he did not pitch in 2010. In 2011, Ranaudo made his professional debut with the Greenville Drive of the South Atlantic League. In 10 starts for the Drive, he posted a 4–1 record with a 3.33 earned run average and a 1.10 walks plus hits per inning pitched over 46 innings pitched. He was then promoted to the Advanced-ASalem Red Sox of the Carolina League, where he went 5–5 with a 4.33 ERA in 16 starts, including 67 strikeouts and a 1.35 WHIP in 81 innings. He finished the season with a combined 9–6 record and a 3.97 ERA in 26 starts, 117 strikeouts, a 1.27 WHIP and 127 innings pitched. Ranaudo was promoted to the Double-APortland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League for the 2012 season. Previously, he was ranked as the top pitching prospect in the Red Sox organization and the 5th overall minor league prospect in Major League Baseball by MiLB.com. Ranaudo was injured for much of April and May and did not earn his first win with the Sea Dogs until June. His season ended early due to injuries, going 1–3 with a 6.69 earned run average over nine starts in just 37⅔ innings of work. Ranaudo returned to the Portland Sea Dogs in 2013, earning bids in the All-Star Futures Game and the Eastern League All-Star Game along the way. At the end of July, he was leading the league in both WHIP and batting average against, while posting an 8–4 record and a 2.95 ERA in 19 starts, which included an 8.7 K/9 rate. He then gained a promotion to Triple-APawtucket Red Sox on August 2. Late in August, Ranaudo was selected to the Eastern League Year–End All-Star team and was named the circuit's Pitcher of the Year, as voted on by league managers and media members. Ranaudo was added to the Red Sox 40-man roster on November 20, 2013.
Boston Red Sox
Ranaudo began the 2014 season in the Pawtucket Red Sox rotation. He was selected to the 2014 International League All-Star Team but did not play due to an injury. Ranaudo was called up to the major leagues for the first time on August 1, 2014 and made his Major League Baseball debut that day in a start against the New York Yankees. In that start he collected his first career strikeout, striking out Derek Jeter, who coincidentally was his boyhood sports hero. He also won the game. The next day, Ranaudo was optioned back to Pawtucket, but recalled August 12.
Texas Rangers
On January 27, 2015, the Red Sox traded Ranaudo to the Texas Rangers in exchange for pitcher Robbie Ross Jr. He was sent down to begin the season with Triple–A Round Rock Express on March 28, 2015. Ranaudo began the 2016 season with Triple–A Round Rock Express, and was recalled on May 6 by the Rangers, for whom he made his season debut on May 7 at Detroit, against the Tigers, entering the game in the third inning with the Rangers down 3–2. Ranaudo pitched 2 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on an Ian Kinsler home run in the fourth inning as Anthony Gose was on base via a walk. He would give up one other hit in that inning. Ranaudo would appear in one more game before being optioned back to Triple-A Round Rock on May 11.
Chicago White Sox
Ranaudo was traded on May 12 to the Chicago White Sox for minor league right-handed pitcher Matt Ball. He was then optioned on May 13 to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. Ranaudo started in the majors again for the White Sox on July 27 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field and got his first MLB hit with a fifth inning home run. On July 28, he was reassigned to Triple-A Charlotte. During the 2016 offseason, Ranaudo was released by the White Sox.
On November 22, 2016, Ranaudo signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract with the Samsung Lions of the KBO League. He became a free agent after the 2017 season.
