Switch Pitching 101

Has there ever been a switch pitcher in college baseball? Yes, a few switch pitchers have thrown in college. The best know switch pitcher is Pat Venditte , who was a walk-on pitcher at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. After a successful college career, Venditte was drafted as a pitcher by the New York Yankees. Now, he is a relief switch pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. In 1990, Lou Pavolich, editor of Collegiate Baseball News , said he could remember only two players in the last 20 years who have pitched from both sides in college. `` It's so unusual, it's virtually unheard of .'' In the last decade, there have been about ten college pitchers who could throw well from both sides. A few switch pitchers played for Division I colleges. Two successful ambidextrous pitchers played for Harvard University. Switch pitchers are smart and do well in school. The best ambidextrous pitchers where drafted out of high school and are fielding positions in the mino...

Show of hands - Venditte's unique skill poses challenge for all Indiana Gazette (Indiana, PA) 21 Jun 2008 By Bill Konigsberg, AP Sports Writer New York - Ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte can confound hitters - and umpires - when he's own the mound. The umps working a New York-Penn League (short-season Class-A) game Thursday night between the Staten Island Yankees and the Brooklyn Cyclones had nothing to go by when Venditte made his professional debut, less than two weeks after getting drafted in the 20th round by the Yankees. He pitched the ninth, and after retiring two batters and allowing a single, a switch hitter stepped to the plate for Brooklyn, That's hardly unusual. But it becomes intriguing against Venditte, a switch pitcher. ... "The reason he's not as fast from the left is he drops his arm from the left side to get more movement, he throws a sweeping slider," he said. "The coach at Creighton thought it was more difficult ...

Articles and videos featuring Ambidextrous Pitchers Tony Mullan - "The Count" Mullane was baseball's first ambidextrous pitcher and a talented ballplayer who played every position in the field except catcher. Mullane was also a switch hitter. July 18, 1882: "Louisville hurler Tony Mullane pitches both right- and lefthanded in an AA game against Baltimore, the first time the feat is performed in the major leagues. Starting in the 4th inning he pitches lefthanded whenever Baltimore's lefty hitters are at bat. In addition to continuing to pitch righthanded to righthanded hitters. It works until the 9th when, with 2 outs, Charlie Householder hits his only HR of the year to beat Mullane 9-8." The Count  won 30 games in five consecutive seasons. He threw a No-hitter on September 11, 1882. His teammates included Cy Young and John McGraw. Read more Greg Harris Harris switch pitched for one inning in the Major Leagues back in 1995 For one inni...

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 so...