The Other Fifteen

Most people who attempt to throw with their non-dominant arm have an extremely hard time. I was once called a queer for attempting to do so, and as a result I haven’t tried to throw lefty since. However, there is at least one exception to the rule.

Pat Venditte is a switch pitcher in the Yankees farm system, making him the only ambidextrous pitcher in professional baseball (besides Greg Harris who did so professionally for two at bats). He throws six different pitches with each arm and has been clocked at 93 mph with his right arm and 86 mph with his left arm. Venditte is currently playing advanced A ball with the Yankees farm team out of Tampa, Florida. As a closer this season, he has a 1.65 era and a BAA of .250 facing lefties and .236 facing righties.

You might be wondering if there are any rules that pertain to freaks like Venditte….. there are. The pitcher must first declare which arm he will pitch with, then the batter decides which way he will hit. After each player makes their initial decisions they are both allowed one switch during the at bat. Since Venditte cannot bring two gloves to the mound, he uses a specially designed glove that can be worn on either hand.

The glove was discovered by his dad who began teaching Venditte to switch pitch when he was 3. He also urged his son to eat with both hands, write with both hands, punt footballs with both feet (to help with his footwork for pitching), and play musical instruments. I’m assuming that during his son’s adolescence he also encouraged him to masturbate with both hands, but that’s just because I’m a sick son of a bitch.