High School Switch Pitchers

Henry Knight throws deceptive change-ups from both sides
as a high school switch pitcher

Over the past decade, there have been a few players who pitched with both arms in high school baseball games. Most of these ambidextrous pitchers started throwing with both hands before they were playing Little League baseball.

Here are some interesting stories and videos of ambidextrous high school baseball players who switch pitched in games.

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Henry Knight (2015) - Franklin High School, Seattle, Washington

Henry Knight is a switch pitcher and middle infielder for Franklin High School in Seattle. He plays a variety of sports and works out daily. In the off-season, Knight worked with Ken Knutson (ASU), Elliott Cribby (SeattleU), and Jason Kelly (UW) to hone his pitching skills. He throws a fastball, 2-seamer, splitter, change-up, curveball and cutter – for strikes – from both sides.

In 2014, Knight played infield and pitched for the BBB 18U team that competed in the American Legion Super Regionals. As a switch pitcher and infielder, he helped lead the Columbia City Reds 16U team to a 3rd place finish in the Mickey Mantle state tournament.

In 2013, Knight was the starting shortstop and closer for the Columbia City Reds 15U team. He posted a 1.26 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 39 innings as a relief pitcher. As a switch hitter, he posted a .500 BA with a .677 OBP.

As a sophomore, Knight was a relief pitcher with a 0.78 ERA as a lefty. As a switch pitcher, he recorded 22 strikeouts and only two walks in 22 innings, for a 11:1 K/BB ratio.

In his junior year, Knight posted a 0.00 ERA pitching left-handed, while recording an impressive 12:1 K/BB ratio as a switch pitcher.

Read more about Marcus Garcia

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Ryan Perez (2012) - Hampshire, Illinois

On his Perfect Game player profile, Ryan Perez’s primary position is listed as “BHP.” That’s BHP as in “both-handed pitcher.” It’s a position sometimes referred to as “switch-pitcher.”

Perez is a 6-foot, 185-pound senior at Westminster Christian High School in Hampshire, Ill., whose father, Juan Perez, made the decision to develop his son into an ambidextrous thrower as soon as the youngster was old enough to pick up a ball. (source: Perfect Game USA)

In 2011, his fastball was 90 mph right-handed and 87 mph left-handed. News reports have him pitching 90 mph with both hands.

As a college freshman, Perez was on the baseball roster at Judson University – listed as RHP/LHP (switch pitcher).

Perez intent on remaining a 'BHP'

Ryan Perez BHP - Perfect Game Profile

Suburban switch-pitcher By Eric Olson Shaw News Service

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Andrew Pullin (2012) - Centralia High School, Washington
The versatile Pullin was a switch-hitter and ambidextrous pitcher at Centralia High School where he was a four-year starter. Pullin began throwing with both arms in the fifth grade - during Little League. Read more

In 2012, the Phillies drafted outfielder Andrew Pullin in the fifth round as the 188th overall pick of the MLB draft. Previously, he had committed to play ball for the University of Oregon, which has a strong baseball program.
Like Vettleson, Andrew Pullin played summer ball for the NW Timberjacks 18U team.
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Dalton Mellott (2011) - Owensboro Catholic High School, Kentucky

As a 16-year-old ambidextrous pitcher, Mellott was clocked throwing at 88 mph righty, and 75 mph lefty. He pitched right-handed and played infield in college. Read more

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Drew Vettleson (2010) - Central Kitsap High School, Washington

The athletic Vettleson was the 42nd overall pick in the 2010 MLB draft. He pitched and played outfield for Central Kitsap High School and was committed to play for Oregon State University before being selected by the Tampa Bay Rays.
In the summer, Drew Vettleson played for the NW Timberjacks 18U team.

Vettleson earned some notice for his switch-pitching, but he’s a pro prospect as an outfielder who can hit well and is projected to play right field.

Drew Vettleson led Central Kitsap in nearly every offensive statistical category during the regular season in 2010, hitting .490 to go with seven home runs and 29 RBI. He also was the team's top pitcher, posting a 1.35 ERA with 71 strikeouts and 32 walks.
Drew Vettleson MiLB statistics

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D.J. Hoagboon (2010) - Mayfield High School, New York

Ambidextrous pitcher D.J. Hoagboon is also a catcher, infielder and outfielder. He was a four-year letterwinner at Mayfield High School... Two-time team captain...Was named Under Armour Pre-Season All-American...Batted .532 left-handed as a senior.

Watch the FOX23 Sports feature on Hoagboon

Hoagboon plays for the University of Albany, NY.

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Alex Adami (2008) - Thornwood, New York

Alex Adami of Thornwood first became a switch-pitcher (throwing with each hand) when he was at Iona Prep, and he's still at it as a star reliever for SUNY Binghamton.
At Prep, the right-hander-turned-switch-pitcher was an All-Bronx/Westchester honoree who had an 8-2 record and 0.93 earned run average his senior year. Perfect Game recorded his fastball as 90 mph right-handed.

Alex Adami Baseball Profile

Adami still switch-pitching, still succeeding at Binghamton - May 15, 2011

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Matt Brunnig (Harvard class of 2006)

Matt Brunnig, a tall switch pitcher, was able to throw over 85mph on either side, but never pitched with both arms in the same game. As a starter he would pitch every game conventionally with one side, and save the other arm for another start, thus allowing him to be two starters in one.

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Pat Venditte Jr. - Omaha Central High School, Nebraska

Pat Venditte played for Omaha Central High School where he posted a 5-4 record during his senior year, pitching both left and right-handed -- earning All-Nebraska second team honors. Lettered two seasons in baseball under coach Scott Hodges.

In 2005, he joined the Creighton University Bluejays, where he was a walk-on player. He had five appearances as a freshman pitcher, but was not allowed to switch pitch until his sophomore year. In the 2007 season, Venditte earned first-team all-conference honors -- leading Creighton to its first conference championship and was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

In 2006, Venditte pitched both left-handed and right-handed in 22 games, as a college sophomore. Recorded a 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings ratio with his left arm despite being a natural right hander.

As a Junior, in 2007, he pitched with both arms in 32 of his appearances, and recorded at least one strikeout with both arms 10 times ... Left-handed batters were just 18-for-101 (.178) against him, while right-handed batters hit 44-for-227 (.194) ... Finished the season with a 9.1 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio.

In 2008, Venditte was selected by the NY Yankees as the 620th pick of the MLB draft. He is currently pitching in the minor leagues.

Venditte's ability to pitch with either arm led professional baseball umpires to create a new rule for ambidextrous pitchers, know as the "Pat Venditte Rule."

Ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte really is the man in the mirror
Two Pitchers in One by John Strubel

Pat Venditte MiLB statistics

Pat Venditte Biography - GoCreighton.com

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Rich Brady - Holy Ghost Prep 1993, Philadelphia, PA

Rich Brady writes with his left hand, shoots a basketball with his right hand and plays first base left-handed and third base right-handed. He pitches with his right hand. And he pitches with his left hand. Brady finished the 1993 season with a 6-0 record - four wins right-handed and two left-handed. He first became intrigued by his emerging ambidexterity at age 7, and he has worked at it ever since. Coach Ted Grabowski said Brady hits about 80 m.p.h. with his fastball right-handed and in the mid- 70s left-handed. (philly.com)

Holy Ghost Prep Pitcher Switches Arms in Rout of Lower Moreland, April 22, 1993 | philly.com

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Baseball Glove Options for Switch Pitchers

Custom made Mizuno ambidextrous glove Looking for a glove for a switch pitcher? Before spending hundreds of dollars on a custom glove, please think about age of the player and how much time they will spend pitching. Here are glove options for ambidextrous pitchers, based on age: Age 3-5 Kids don't pitch at this age. They should be learning the proper way to throw. Young kids should try catching the ball with two hands. Use tennis balls or foam balls for throwing. Forget about the low quality plastic glove - it's in the landfill within a year. Gloves are awkward for young kids. If they learn two hand catch when they are young and continue with the skill, they will do well fielding balls when they are older. Learning to throw with both arms is easy at this stage. If a child can throw with either hand when they are three-years-old, it doesn't mean that they are talented or ambidextrous - it just means that they are a typical kid. Gloves: Buy a smal...

Switch Pitching 101

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