KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Pat Venditte understands the curiosity he creates by throwing with both arms. However, he also knows that while his rare skill got him a look by Joe Girardi in a big-league spring training game, there is a bigger picture to focus on.
“My job is to pitch,’’ the ambidextrous hurler said after working 1 1/3 innings of a 9-6 Yankees loss to the Braves. “Anytime you get an opportunity like this you have to take advantage of it.’’
Venditte gave up one run on two hits with one walk after entering in the fifth inning.
He pitched right-handed to Braves switch-hitter Brooks Conrad, who grounded out to first base.
“For me, it was entertaining,” Jorge Posada told MLB.com. “I think he’s got enough. I think it’s interesting that he can switch in between hitters. We saw that — he saw a lefty on deck and switched it right away. He’s got an idea. He throws strikes, throws harder from the right side probably, with some breaking balls and stuff. He was probably nervous, too.”
Venditte, 24, hasn’t pitched above Single-A in two years of pro ball and is likely ticketed for Tampa (Single-A) this year after a sterling 2009 season.
Though his chances of reaching the big leagues working with two hands are long, he understands his stuff would be short from one side only.
“I have to (pitch both ways),’’ he said of continuing to switch back and forth from left to right with a six-finger glove. “I don’t have overpowering stuff. I need this to continue pitching.’’
The 20th-round pick in 2008 is right about his stuff. His right-handed fastball topped out at 89 mph and there were control issues. From the left side he is more of a slinger with a slider.