Pete Taraskevich
Hometown: Sunrise, Florida
High School: American Heritage HS
College: Cumberland University (Class of 2010)
Height/Weight: 6'0" 229
Bats: Left
Throws: Both (ambidextrous)
Glove: In high school, used two gloves for pitching
Draft: Selected by the Twins in 27th round of MLB Draft in 2003
Taraskevich eats, golfs and bats left-handed (.408), shoots baskets and bowls with both hands and writes right-handed. He has always tinkered with the two-handed special delivery in fall and summer league games. At a national showcase in December, he was rated the fourth-best pitcher and the 12th-best prospect overall. (Sun Sentinel)
How he got started throwing with both hands
His rare skill began at 11, when he would throw a tennis ball for hours against the wall of his home in Sunrise, Florida. His father, Steven, a physiology professor at Nova Southeastern and a former high school pitcher, told him to switch hands or he'd become "the youngest candidate for Tommy John surgery."
The Twins were likely intrigued not only by Taraskevich's mid-90s fastball, but by his ability to throw both right- and left-handed. Although he always was ambidextrous, it wasn't until he accidentally hit a teammate in youth league play that Taraskevich realized he could use his left hand almost as well as his right. This season, he closed several of his own starts by switching arms, and would like to use the next year to continue developing his left-handed pitches. Read more
"Peter was able to overpower them," coach Paul Liotti said. "To face nine guys and strike out nine, that's a heck of an accomplishment."
Hometown: Sunrise, Florida
High School: American Heritage HS
College: Cumberland University (Class of 2010)
Height/Weight: 6'0" 229
Bats: Left
Throws: Both (ambidextrous)
Glove: In high school, used two gloves for pitching
Draft: Selected by the Twins in 27th round of MLB Draft in 2003
Taraskevich eats, golfs and bats left-handed (.408), shoots baskets and bowls with both hands and writes right-handed. He has always tinkered with the two-handed special delivery in fall and summer league games. At a national showcase in December, he was rated the fourth-best pitcher and the 12th-best prospect overall. (Sun Sentinel)
How he got started throwing with both hands
His rare skill began at 11, when he would throw a tennis ball for hours against the wall of his home in Sunrise, Florida. His father, Steven, a physiology professor at Nova Southeastern and a former high school pitcher, told him to switch hands or he'd become "the youngest candidate for Tommy John surgery."
Throwing Smoke
Whether Pitching Right- Or Left-handed, Peter Taraskevich Confounds Hitters.
The Right-handed Southpaw
Switch-hitters are becoming more commonplace in baseball, but switch-pitchers?
When the state's top-ranked American Heritage Patriots (29-2) host Pope John Paul II (16-13) in today's Class 3A regional semifinal, coach Todd Fitz-Gerald has the option of starting a left-handed pitcher and right-handed pitcher -- at the same time.
Junior starter Peter Taraskevich, who may be held out for Tuesday's possible regional final, would like to become the first effective modern-day ambidextrous major league pitcher. But first he has to convince his high school coach to let him try his unusual talent on a regular basis. Read more
Zion Lutheran Perfect In Quarterfinal Victory
DEERFIELD BEACH — Peter Taraskevich and Rory Mulcahy combined to pitch a perfect game, leading Zion Lutheran to an 11-0 win over Broward Christian in the Class 1A regional quarterfinals Tuesday.
Taraskevich, a freshman, threw just 38 pitches in striking out all nine batters he faced.
Statistics
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at American Heritage School … Selected First Team All-State … Voted Player of the Year … Selected in 27th round of MLB Draft in 2003 … Recorded 135 strikeouts with 0.98 ERA and 10-1 record as senior.
Peter Taraskevich - Cumberland University
2010 (SENIOR): Ambidextrous pitcher ... Appeared in nine games with five starts and one complete game, posting 2-0 mark with 6.75 ERA in 22.2 innings with 19 strikeouts
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