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Pat Venditte - Creighton's ambidextrous pitcher

Historical news articles about switch pitcher Pat Venditte.

Pat Venditte
Born: June 30, 1985 (age 28), Omaha, NE
Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)
Education: Omaha Central High School, Creighton University


Position: Switch Pitcher

Pat Venditte's pitching repertoire in college:

LHP: 78-81 mph; fastball, slider
   using a sidearm delivery

RHP: 88-91 mph; fastball, changeup, curveball
   using a 3/4 delivery
(velocity in 2007)

Venditte's strength is location, not power.

Pat Venditte was a walk-on pitcher for Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He had a 5-4 win-loss record during his high school senior year, earning him All-Nebraska second team honors.


Ambidextrous Glove:
Venditte used a Mizuno custom-made ambidextrous glove – ordered from Osaka Japan by his father –  with six fingers and two thumbs slots ($700).

At Creighton University he started using a Louisville custom-made ambi glove (see photo) in his sophomore year – since the university had a contract with Louisville.

As a pro pitcher, Venditte uses a Mizuno custom-made ambidextrous glove.

Switch pitcher: Creighton's ambidextrous Venditte is two pitchers in one

Friday, April 28, 2006
OMAHA, Neb. -- Pat Venditte Sr. came up with the idea when he was tossing a ball to his 3-year-old son in the backyard.
Wouldn't it be neat if he could get Pat Jr., a natural right-hander, to throw with both arms equally well?

Read more


Throwing Batters Curves Before Throwing a Pitch



Published: April 6, 2007

The pitch was nothing remarkable: Pat Venditte, Creighton University’s temporarily right-handed pitcher, threw a fastball past a Northern Iowa batter for a called strike three. It was his next windup that evinced this young pitcher’s uniqueness and, perhaps, professional future.
As his teammates whipped the ball around the infield, Venditte smoothly, unthinkingly, removed his custom glove from his left hand and slipped it on his right. Moments later he leaned back, threw a strike left-handed to the next batter, and finished the side in order.
Read more


Yankees draft Creighton switch-pitcher Venditte in 45th round
USA Today 6/8/2007.

OMAHA (AP) — Pat Venditte, the Creighton pitcher who has earned national acclaim for throwing both right-handed and left-handed, was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 45th round Friday.

Venditte had been projected to go anywhere from the 10th to 20th rounds, but he said he told scouts that he planned to return to Creighton for his senior season.

"I really never intended on signing this year, so I was surprised they took me," Venditte said. "I fully intend to be back at school."

Venditte ranked among the national leaders in appearances (38), ERA (1.88) and opponent batting average (.189). His 1.88 ERA was a single-season school record, and his career 2.61 ERA also is best in school history.

Read more



Ambidextrous Creighton pitcher comes at you from all angles
USA Today 5/31/2007.


He has progressed from walk-on to all-conference pitcher and modest — but most interesting — major league draft prospect.
Creighton's Pat Venditte put together an 8-2 record, four saves, a 32 2/3-inning scoreless streak and a 1.83 ERA in 36 regular-season appearances.
Five of those he made as a right-hander. Three he made as a lefty. And in 28 games the 6-1, 190-pound junior threw from both sides. 




Pat Venditte Biography - Creighton University Bluejays



Pat Venditte #27 - Creighton University Bluejays

Player bio in senior year at Creighton, including college career stats (pdf)


Pat Venditte | Baseball 2008 | Senior CLASS Award

Videos

Ambidextrous Pitcher - YouTube
Uploaded on May 22, 2007
Creighton's Pat Venditte is listed as a right handed pitcher...and a
left handed pitcher.
Uploaded on Aug 20, 2009
Pat Venditte has been pitching with his left and right hand since the age of 3. Now a minor leaguer for the Charleston RiverDogs, he is a New York Yankees prospect. 
RHP: 93 mph; LHP: 86 mph

Sports Feature - Pat Venditte - SchoolTube

Oct 23, 2009
An interview with former Creighton University (Omaha, NE) pitcher Pat Venditte.

CU's Pat Venditte pitches with BOTH arms
Pat Venditte Northwoods League Allstar Game 2007. Warming up right- and left-handed. ...

Comments

  1. At Yankees spring training on March 4, 2014, Pat Venditte was listed as "available if needed" according to the Greedy Pinstripes blog: http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/2014/03/new-york-yankees-spring-training-news_4.html. No mention since, though. I have no idea what "available if needed" implies for his chances.

    ReplyDelete

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