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Blue Jays claim ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte

By Keegan Matheson

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The Toronto Blue Jays have made a rather unique waiver claim ahead of their third game in the ALCS. Right-handed pitcher Pat Venditte has been claimed from the Oakland Athletics, and the Blue Jays have designated Darwin Barney for assignment. Here’s the thing, though… Pat Venditte is also a left-handed pitcher. 

An

amphibious pitcher!  Err…ambidextrous.  That’s the one.

Venditte is required to declare which hand he will be throwing with prior to each at-bat, and has been one of the more interesting stories in Minor League Baseball since being drafted by the New York Yankees in 2008. Interestingly enough, he pitched his college ball for the Creighton Bluejays.

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It’s been a long road through the minors for Venditte, who finally cracked the Athletics’ big league roster this season for 28.2 innings (4.40 ERA). He did start off hot in the majors, but a shoulder injury landed him temporarily on the disabled list. The majority of his 2015 was spent with Nashville of the Pacific Coast League, where he posted a stellar 1.55 ERA over 40.2 innings.

In fact, Venditte has enjoyed some fairly steady success across his eight minor league seasons. In 429.1 innings, spent mostly in equal thirds between Hi-A, AA and AAA, he’s recorded a 2.39 ERA while striking out 10.0 batters per nine. He’s also avoided the home run ball quite well, with just 0.5 per nine.

It’s unfortunate to see Barney and his glove leave the organization, but if Venditte is able to stick on the bottom of the roster throughout the winter (which will be tough), he could make for an interesting arm entering spring training. Regardless of the arm he’s throwing with.

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