The Lexington Legends' next home stand could offer a true rarity in
baseball: a switch-pitcher.Pat Venditte, a relief pitcher for the Charleston RiverDogs, is no novelty act. He can pitch with either hand - and pitch well. Through games of May 9, he had made 12 appearances and allowed one earned run and no walks while striking out 23 batters.
The Legends will play the RiverDogs in a four-game series at Applebee's Park beginning Monday, May 11. First pitch for each game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
In 2008, pitching for Staten Island in the short-season Class A New York-Penn League, Venditte was 1-0 with an ERA of 0.83 in 30 appearances. He had 23 saves in 23 opportunities while holding opponents to a .117 batting average, and was named short-season reliever of the year by reliever of the year.
It can be an interesting confrontation when Venditte faces a switch-hitter. The rule is that the pitcher must declare in advance which way he is going to pitch. Each side is then allowed to switch once. The rule came into play after Venditte's professional debut, a 2008 game between Staten Island and Brooklyn. A delay occurred as Venditte and switch-hitter Ralph Henriquez, a former Lexington Legend, each tried to the gain the advantage by switching sides several times.
Venditte is a natural right-hander who was taught to pitch
left-handed by his father starting at about age three, when his father
noticed that he threw balls with both hands. Venditte pitched at Creighton
before being selected by the New York Yankees in the 20th round of the 2008
first-year player draft. He has been the subject of stories in the New York
Times Following the Charleston series, the Legends will remain at home to
play the Savannah Sand Gnats in another four-game series. Start times are
7:05 p.m. for the games on May 15 and 16, 2:05 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, and
10:05 a.m. on Monday, May 18. For ticket information, call 859 422-7867 or
visit lexingtonlegends.com.
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