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Brandon Berdoll - Lefty Shortstop Learns to Throw Right

Brandon Berdoll

Born:  Oct 14,1982
Hometown: Cedar Creek, Texas
Height:  6-3  Weight:  195
Positions: LHP / RHP / SS
Bats: Left

High School: Westlake High School in Austin, Texas (Chaps)
College:  Temple College (Leopards); Texas A&M University
MLB Draft:  Selected by Atlanta Braves in 27th Round (817th overall) of 2003 amateur entry draft

Glove: used a custom made six-finger glove with two thumbs ($325)

Dominant hand: Left

Brandon Berdoll - a natural lefty - learned how to throw with both arms, at age 10, after his coach would not allow him to play shortstop.

At Temple Junior College, he threw 89 miles per hour with his left arm, and 85 miles per hour with his right arm. He threw a sharp curveball with both. The Atlanta Braves picked Berdoll, a 6-3, 195-pounder from Austin Westlake, as a left-handed pitcher, though he has pitched with both arms and was a part-time designated hitter for the Leopards (tdtnews.com).

Custom six-fingered glove

"Berdoll's $325 custom-made, faded blue baseball glove has a thumb on both sides, allowing him to switch hands with equal comfort."


Why he started pitching with both arms

Berdoll was a slick-fielding shortstop when he was 8-years-old. Always one of the best athletes on his youth teams, he joined a summer "select" squad when he turned 10.

On the first day of practice, he settled into his regular position for fielding workouts. When the coach saw Berdoll throw the ball to first base with his left hand, he abruptly stopped practice.

"You can't play shortstop left-handed," the coach said.

"Yes I can!" Berdoll said.

"No you can't!"

"Yes I can!"

On the drive home, Brandon - still upset about the position switch - told his father that he wanted to prove the coaches wrong.

For six months, Brandon practiced throwing tennis balls against the garage door, usually after midnight.
Annoyed but supportive, Hal and Lisa Berdoll listened to the constant thumps their son created in the driveway.

Persistence paid off. Within two years, Brandon played shortstop again.

Right-handed.

Once he gets the idea for doing something, he doesn't quit," Lisa said.

(source: Rome News-Tribune, June 28, 2003)



Life after Baseball

Students tap Brandon Berdoll as top summer 2007 construction student

Brandon Berdoll was elected the Associated General Contractors Gene Murphree Construction Science Outstanding Undergraduate in the August 2007 graduation class. College of Architecture at Texas A&M University


Berdoll Pecan Candy and Gift Company - Cedar Creek, TX

My twin brother Brandon has found his love, building. He has started making custom furniture and milling logs particularly out of pecan wood, while his wife Brandi manages the retail store ..



Articles

2 Pitchers in 1 By Rick Cantu, Cox News Service

Pitcher Brandon Berdoll, a 27th-round draft pick by the Braves, can throw the ball with either arm.

Switch pitcher well on his way to MLB annals By RICK BRAGG
Austin American-Statesman

The Seattle Times


Switch-pitcher's hope: Major-league job
June 29, 2003|By Rick Cantu, Austin American Statesman.


Houston Chronicle, June 29, 2003


Brandon Berdoll Stats - The Baseball Cube


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