Creighton's ambidextrous pitcher

[beamer_ball]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colle...reighton_N.htm
Ambidextrous Creighton pitcher comes at you from all angles
Updated 19h 42m ago | Comments 8 | Recommend 4


Creighton pitcher Pat Venditte delivers a pitch as both lefty and righty against Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., in these April 18, 2006 photos.

By Andy Gardiner and Steve Wieberg, USA TODAY

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.

Right-handed hitters batted .196 against him, lefties .178, as college baseball's only known ambidextrous pitcher helped 22nd-ranked Creighton (40-14) to its second NCAA tournament berth in three years.

Venditte, who turns 22 on June 30, less than a week after the College World Series wraps up in his hometown of Omaha, has been throwing with both hands since he was 3, most famously since he started doing it as a Creighton long reliever a year ago.

He wears a glove with four fingers and two thumb holes and switches hands effortlessly. Rules require him to commit to one hand before starting a pitch count; he can't change mid-batter.

As a righty, Venditte complements his fastball and change-up with a curveball. From the left side, he goes with a slider.

In essence, he's two pitchers in one for the Bluejays, able to work more often than normal pitchers because the use of both arms divides the stress and reduces necessary rest. Venditte appeared in nine games in 16 days as Creighton closed its regular season; he threw from both sides in all but one.

He was named most outstanding player of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament Saturday as Creighton claimed its first MVC tournament title.

[imported_MoonlightGraham]

How does he pitch? Just throw righty one day and lefty the next or does he switch out w/every batter?

[imported_Counts]

Reading the artical it sounds like he does switch during the game at times

[imported_MoonlightGraham]

that would suck if you was a switch hitter.

[ms pemberley]

The ultimate weapon. I mean, how do you manage against this kid? You can't "follow the book" with this guy. What good would it do to send up a pinch-hitter? All this kid needs to do is switch glove hands and he's turned around and ready to go. I love it!

[beamer_ball]

I read elsewhere that he throws in the low 80s (drops to a side-arm) with his left and 89-91 (overhand) with his right.

Like it mentions at the end, he's got the advantage with pitch count too. He may end up throwing 30 pitches one day but half may have been with the right and the other half with the left.

[neutral88]

This guy is the ultimate weapon, can't wait to see how he does in the pros...

[ms pemberley]

Me either. You know somebody is going to give him a chance just because he is ambidextrous. What manager wouldn't want a guy who can throw strikes and get out both lefties and righties? A one-man relief corps is what this kid could be with a little work. I'm not saying he's the greatest thing since sliced bread, just that he has a chance to leave a mark if the cards fall his way (and he is willing to work for it).

[Indian09]

He could be a very good asset to a Major League team in years to come. But if he loses one of his arms it an injury he won survive the big leagues.

[CoeburnCane]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Borat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">He could be a very good asset to a Major League team in years to come. But if he loses one of his arms it an injury he won survive the big leagues.</div></div>

Anyone else hear Mr. Sagdiyev's voice when you read Borat's posts? Funny shizzle...