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Nati Harnik/AP
Creighton pitcher Pat Venditte delivers a pitch both lefty and righty against Nebraska in
Lincoln, Neb., in these April 18, 2006 photos. (AP)
Creighton pitcher Pat Venditte delivers a pitch both lefty and righty against Nebraska in
Lincoln, Neb., in these April 18, 2006 photos. (AP)
Switch Pitcher Baffles Switch Hitter, Umpires
June 20, 2008 02:02 PM
Minor league pitcher Pat Venditte, who can pitch with either arm, created confusion for players, umpires and fans Thursday night when he faced a switch hitter.
30-Second Summary
Pat Venditte was making his professional debut for the Staten Island Yankees in a rare televised game for the Class A team.
Pitching righty, Venditte retired the first two hitters and allowed a single. When switch-hitting Ralph Henriquez came to the plate to bat from the left side, Venditte switched his custom-made, six-finger glove to his right hand and prepared to pitch lefty.
Henriquez then turned around to bat right-handed. The two players switched sides several times before umpires stepped in to discuss the issue. After several minutes, they forced Henriquez to choose a side first; he chose to bat righty and struck out against the right-handed pitching Venditte.
The rule in place states that the pitcher and batter can switch sides just once during an at-bat. However, it is unclear which player must declare their side first.
Major League Baseball is expected to clarify the rule in the coming days. The New York Post's Kevin Kernan called MLB and was told that the pitcher must declare first.
Venditte experienced a similar situation while pitching in college. That time, the umpires ruled that he must declare before the batter. For the remainder of his college career, he chose which arm to pitch with based on the switch-hitter’s scouting report.
Venditte, a 20th-round pick in the 2008 draft, is hoping to one day become the first full-time switch pitcher in the modern Major Leagues. In 1995, Montreal Expos pitcher Greg Harris pitched one inning as a switch pitcher, the first to do so since 1888.
Pitching righty, Venditte retired the first two hitters and allowed a single. When switch-hitting Ralph Henriquez came to the plate to bat from the left side, Venditte switched his custom-made, six-finger glove to his right hand and prepared to pitch lefty.
Henriquez then turned around to bat right-handed. The two players switched sides several times before umpires stepped in to discuss the issue. After several minutes, they forced Henriquez to choose a side first; he chose to bat righty and struck out against the right-handed pitching Venditte.
The rule in place states that the pitcher and batter can switch sides just once during an at-bat. However, it is unclear which player must declare their side first.
Major League Baseball is expected to clarify the rule in the coming days. The New York Post's Kevin Kernan called MLB and was told that the pitcher must declare first.
Venditte experienced a similar situation while pitching in college. That time, the umpires ruled that he must declare before the batter. For the remainder of his college career, he chose which arm to pitch with based on the switch-hitter’s scouting report.
Venditte, a 20th-round pick in the 2008 draft, is hoping to one day become the first full-time switch pitcher in the modern Major Leagues. In 1995, Montreal Expos pitcher Greg Harris pitched one inning as a switch pitcher, the first to do so since 1888.
Headline Link: Video of the at-bat
The Staten Island Yankees chose to pitch Venditte for the first time in a game televised on Sportsnet New York. Like the umpires, the SNY announcers had no idea what to make of the situation. “This is becoming a little bit ridiculous, is it not?” said the play-by-play announcer. “I mean, how many times can he do this?”
Source: Bugs & Cranks
It took over five minutes for the umpires to decide that Henriquez must choose a side first. The rule book is unclear which player must choose first, but New York Post reporter Kevin Kernan informed ESPN that MLB told him the pitcher must do so. MLB and the New York-Penn League have yet to make an official ruling on the issue.
Source: ESPN
Background: Pat Venditte
Pat Venditte is not naturally ambidextrous; his father taught him to pitch left-handed when he was three years old. At Creighton University, Venditte proved to be a valuable weapon in the bullpen. “It helps the depth of the bullpen a lot,” said Creighton pitching coach Rob Smith, “you don’t have to burn a guy to get the matchup you want.” In Venditte’s first appearance against a switch hitter, the umpires ruled that pitchers must declare which arm they’ll pitch with before the batter steps to the plate. “Eventually, after 10 or 15 minutes, they got it figured out,” said Venditte.
Source: The New York Times (free registration may be required)
Venditte was drafted by the Yankees this season and recently joined their Class A team in Staten Island. Yankees scouts hope that his unique skill will help him make the Major Leagues. “It’s not far-fetched at all,” said scouting director Damon Oppenheimer. “We do think he has prospect status as a righty only, but the idea that he can do this and has shown the ability to get out lefties makes it more exciting.” Oppenheimer was also intrigued by Venditte’s ability pitch more often because he’s using both arms. “It’s almost like two different guys, right?” he said. “It’s such a unique situation, but I would think you can get a little more out of him.”
Source: Newsday
Video: More on Venditte
College Sports Television profiled Venditte in a video segment while he was at Creighton. The clip includes interviews with Venditte and his coaches, as well as highlights of his pitching and a close-up of his six-fingered glove.
Source: YouTube
Historical Context: Switch pitchers
In 1995, Greg Harris of the Expos became the first switch pitcher in a major-league game since Elton “Ice Box” Chamberlain in 1888. Harris, a 15-year veteran who usually pitched righty, had always wanted to pitch lefty, but was not allowed to by his teams. In his second-to-last major league appearance, the Expos allowed him to switch arms for an inning. Harris pitched righty to the first batter, then switched arms when lefty Hal Morris came to the plate. He walked Morris, but retired the next batter while pitching lefty and finished the inning as a righty.
Source: Baseball Library
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