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. Vining spent three seasons with Clemson. In 1994, his freshman season, Vining posted a 3–0 record and a 4.20 ERA in 20 appearances. 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. As a junior in 1996, Vining started in 16 of his 19 appearances, tallying a 10–3 record and ERA of 2.97.\n', '

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 made his professional debut with the Single–A Bellingham Giants of the Northwest League. He made 12 appearances (11 starts) in 1996, posting a 4–2 record and a 2.09 ERA. In 60.1 innings, Vining struck out 69 batters and surrendered 23 walks.\n', '

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. On July 31, 1997, Vining was one of six prospects (along with Keith Foulke, Bob Howry, Lorenzo Barceló, Mike Caruso, and Brian Manning) traded to the White Sox in exchange for Wilson Álvarez, Danny Darwin, and Roberto Hernández in what became known as the White Flag Trade. 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.\n', '

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