Spring is already guaranteed to be a strange one -- not because of any expected chatter about their missed opportunities in the World Series. Rather, this upcoming Spring Training figures on being weird because we apparently just signed an ambidextrous relief pitcher named Pat Venditte.
You heard that right.Dodgers signed switch-pitcher Pat Venditte to a minor-league deal, source confirms.— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) November 28, 2017
This guy can throw as both a right-hander and left-hander. Pat Vindette, a Creighton University graduate, is a 32-year old minor league veteran who got his first taste of professional ball in 2008, and faced Major League batters for the first time seven years later at the age of 30. He's played within the Yankees, A's, Blue Jays, Mariners and Phillie organizations. Now, he is a Dodger. Although he has only signed a minor league deal, I understand that he received an invitation to Spring Training. In other words, he could be vying for a spot in our bullpen.
BTW, you can follow Pat on twitter here: @PatVenditte (he's not particularly active). Furthermore, Venditte recently chatted with Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World-Herald as a part of his "Where I Come From" series. Go here to listen in on that. In it he discusses growing up with a six-finger glove, nearly failing at Creighton, making his big-league debut at Fenway, adapting to today's long-ball hitters, and his favorite minor-league promotions.
Last year Vindette pitched at the Phillies Triple-A club at Lehigh Valley, and recorded a 9-5 record with an 3.36 ERA, 2 saves and 69 strike outs in 69.2 innings. The year prior he pitched for both the Mariners and Blue Jays. Overall, he got into only 15 Major League games, threw 22 innings, and struck out 19. Unfortunately, he also yielded 5 homers that lead to 14 earned runs to balloon his overall ERA to 5.73. Yikes!
There is little doubt Vindette's ability to throw from both sides is intriguing enough for the Dodgers to take a flyer on him. Whether they can turn him into a serviceable reliever is anybody's guess.
In commemoration of his signing I made a fantasy Baseball card of him that you can see at the very top. I took several pics of him throwing from both sides and combined them together for one card.
Furthermore, as a special treat watch highlights of a ninth inning save Vindette recorded in 2016 where he ended up pitching from both sides of the mound during the inning below.
Video Link:
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