Switch Pitching 101

Way back in 2008 ... Venditte's versatility prompts new rule By  Benjamin Hill  /  Special to MLB.com It is a rare instance, indeed, when a first-year professional ballplayer inspires the creation of a new rule. But ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte has done just that. Venditte, the 20th-round pick of the New York Yankees in this June's Draft, received national attention after making his debut with the Staten Island Yankees June 19. With two outs and a runner on first in the bottom of the ninth inning, switch-hitter Ralph Henriquez came to the plate representing the Brooklyn Cyclones' last hope. What resulted was a moment of high comedy: Henriquez entered the batters box batting right-handed, so Venditte switched his glove to his left hand. Henriquez then decided to bat lefty, so Venditte switched his glove back to his right. And on and on it went. After a prolonged delay, Henriquez was ordered to bat right-handed. He then struck out on four pitches to ...

Pat Venditte shows off his Mizuno Ambidextrous Glove Ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte's ability to pitch right- or left-handed prompted a change in the MLB rule book. At the heart of the new guidelines, for switch pitchers,  is the following provision: The pitcher must visually indicate to the umpire, batter and runner(s) which way he will begin pitching to the batter. Engaging the rubber with the glove on a particular hand is considered a definitive commitment to which arm he will throw with. The batter will then choose which side of the plate he will bat from. The guidelines also permit both the batter and pitcher to change positions (from right-handed to left-handed or vice versa) once per at-bat. The Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation (PBUC) released its official rules for dealing with ambidextrous pitchers in July 2008. These guidelines were reached after PBUC staff consulted with a variety of sources, including the Major League Baseball Rules Committee...

Pat Venditte was drafted twice as an ambidextrous pitcher by the New York Yankees. Patrick Michael Venditte Jr. Born:  June 30, 1985 in Omaha, NE Hometown:  Omaha, Nebraska Switch pitcher Pat Venditte plays in the minor league  High School Team:  Omaha Central High School, Nebraska College:  Walk-on pitcher for Creighton University in 2005 MLB:  Drafted by the New York Yankees in the 20th round in 2008 Positions:  RHP / LHP  (Switch Pitcher) Venditte's custom 6-finger ambidextrous glove Bats:  Right (former switch hitter) Throws:  Both, ambidextrous     Right hand dominant Velocity: 92-94 mph RHP; 85-87 mph LHP College Velocity:  85 mph RHP; 80 mph LHP Glove:  Venditte uses a custom made six-fingered glove. The glove has two thumbs and a wide, pie-shaped pocket. Pat Venditte, Sr. ordered a custom Mizuno glove made in Japan for his son, costing $600! Pat ...

8.01 Legal pitching delivery. There are two legal pitching positions, the Windup Position and the Set Position, and either position may be used at any time. Read more 8.01 (f) , regarding ambidextrous pitchers A pitcher must indicate visually to the umpire-in-chief, the batter and any runners the hand with which he intends to pitch, which may be done by wearing his glove on the other hand while touching the pitcher's plate. The pitcher is not permitted to pitch with the other hand until the batter is retired, the batter becomes a runner, the inning ends, the batter is substituted for by a pinch-hitter or the pitcher incurs an injury. In the event a pitcher switches pitching hands during an at-bat because he has suffered an injury, the pitcher may not, for the remainder of the game, pitch with the hand from which he has switched. The pitcher shall not be given the opportunity to throw any preparatory pitches after switching pitching hands. Any change of pitching hands must be...

What happens when an ambidextrous pitcher faces off against a switch-hitting batter? Henry Knight, ambidextrous pitcher - Columbia City Reds The "Venditte Rule" With Venditte able to throw with either arm, he will have to declare whether he will pitch right-handed or left-handed at the start of each at-bat. Venditte won't be allowed to routinely change arms like he once could. A minor-league confrontation with a switch hitter led to the "Venditte Rule." - Alex Schiffer,  NJ.com 2015 Official Baseball Rule 5.07(f)  (formerly 2014 OBR 8.01(f)) covers this situation: A pitcher must indicate visually to the umpire-in-chief, the batter and any runners the hand with which he intends to pitch, which may be done by wearing his glove on the other hand while touching the pitcher's plate. The pitcher is not permitted to pitch with the other hand until the batter is retired, the batter becomes a runner, the inning ends, the batter is substituted for b...