AUBURN - It's not unusual for fans to stick around after a professional baseball game to try and score an autograph or two. Nor is it a new concept to see children line up for one particular player that may make it in the major leagues in the near future.
Glenn Gaston / Special to The Citizen
Staten Island pitcher Pat Venditte poses with his special six-fingered glove made for both the left and right hand. Venditte is currently the only ambidextrous pitcher in professional baseball.
Staten Island pitcher Pat Venditte poses with his special six-fingered glove made for both the left and right hand. Venditte is currently the only ambidextrous pitcher in professional baseball.
What was an incredible sight though, was the flurry of requests for Pat Venditte's John Hancock at Falcon Park on Sunday.
Not only did Venditte just shut down any potential rally by the beloved hometown Auburn Doubledays, but the Staten Island closer created a stir among the 1,747 fans in attendance - before he even left the bullpen.
During his warm-up throws, Venditte threw his right arm, then his left. Even if the fans didn't know his face, or his jersey number, they sure recognized the switch.
For professional baseball's only ambidextrous pitcher, the attention is now the permanent sidebar in the story of his quest to reach the big leagues.
Not unlike his hoards of followers, the daily interview requests of one of baseball's biggest stories this season reads as long as a telephone book. It could get annoying, especially for a 23-year old player trying to get better like every one of his peers. Not so for the Omaha, Neb. native.
“I'm pretty fortunate,” Venditte said. “These fans are great up here and especially back home, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be like this. It's been a little nuts lately, but I've been just trying to continue doing what I've been doing on the field. As long as I do that, everything else will fall into place.”
Out of Creighton University, Venditte was a 20th round selection by the New York Yankees in this year's Major League Baseball draft. His ability to throw balls accurately from both hands wasn't a fact that was vaulted into the spotlight until last month, when he encountered Brooklyn Cyclones' switch hitter Ralph Henriquez in the team's season opener on June 19.
Neither Venditte nor Henriquez could agree upon which side each would pitch and bat, and a game of chicken ensued so infamous that it has since made the highlights on ESPN.
“It had happened once before in college,” Venditte said of the back-and-forth situation. “The other time it worked out in the hitter's advantage. But this time, we had a five run lead, there was two outs and at the time, I just wanted to get the game over with and get my first win for the team.”
Even with that professional win and now five saves under his belt, Venditte seems understandably overwhelmed, but even more humbled. His unusual weapon wasn't something he was born with - it was a learned behavior that took him more than two decades to master.
“It started when I was three,” he said.
“I'm naturally a right hander, but my dad started working with me when I was three and we just kind of kept on going through high school. In my freshman year of college, I wasn't ready for the college game. But in my sophomore through senior years, I did it.”
After graduating high school, Venditte made the baseball team at Creighton as a walk-on. He struggled in his first season, but worked out hard that summer and turned things around dramatically. As a junior, Venditte threw over 41 innings of consecutive scoreless innings and as a senior, he went 9-3 with a 3.34 ERA in 86 1-3 innings. It was more than enough to grab the Yankees' attention.
That, and the attention of most of the team's followers. Older Yankees fans hung around after Sunday's game to wish Venditte well and to let him know they expected to see him in the Bronx sooner rather than later.
Young fans practiced their own ambidextrous pitches in Falcon Park's walk ways and even in an on-field game. Venditte has some practical advice for any kids that aspire to be like him, though.
“It takes a lot of time and a lot of patience,” he said. “There's some trying times in there and it's not all great. I'm sure I'm going to see some downs this season and I just need to take them as they come and keep working hard. Things will look up eventually.”
Things have yet to look down when Venditte is on the hill. Through 9 2-3 innings, he has a 0.73 ERA and has allowed just two hits. He threw 10 pitches against the Doubledays on Sunday to help his team win the three game series.
From his left arm, he got Bryan Kervin to line out to first base in two pitches for the first out. He soon palmed a Chris Hopkins line drive with his right hand , throwing him out at first for out No. 2 before catching Carlos Vasquez looking in five right-armed throws to end the game.
That didn't stop Doubledays fans from getting hats, bats and ticket stubs signed.
And with his teammates long showered and out of Falcon Park, Venditte didn't even enter the visitor's clubhouse until each and every fan - of every age - had his autograph or a picture taken if requested.
“At Creighton, we had a pretty strong following, but nothing like this,” Venditte said. “To get this kind of support and to come to other team's stadiums like this - one guy had a ball with my picture on it today - it's just amazing. I'm so grateful for it. But I can't hang my hat up just yet. I've been fortunate so far, but I've got a long way to go.”
D-days Today
Record: 12-8
Standings:
Second place, 1-game behind
Streak: 2 losses
Next: vs. Staten Island, today, 7 p.m.
Not only did Venditte just shut down any potential rally by the beloved hometown Auburn Doubledays, but the Staten Island closer created a stir among the 1,747 fans in attendance - before he even left the bullpen.
During his warm-up throws, Venditte threw his right arm, then his left. Even if the fans didn't know his face, or his jersey number, they sure recognized the switch.
For professional baseball's only ambidextrous pitcher, the attention is now the permanent sidebar in the story of his quest to reach the big leagues.
Not unlike his hoards of followers, the daily interview requests of one of baseball's biggest stories this season reads as long as a telephone book. It could get annoying, especially for a 23-year old player trying to get better like every one of his peers. Not so for the Omaha, Neb. native.
“I'm pretty fortunate,” Venditte said. “These fans are great up here and especially back home, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be like this. It's been a little nuts lately, but I've been just trying to continue doing what I've been doing on the field. As long as I do that, everything else will fall into place.”
Out of Creighton University, Venditte was a 20th round selection by the New York Yankees in this year's Major League Baseball draft. His ability to throw balls accurately from both hands wasn't a fact that was vaulted into the spotlight until last month, when he encountered Brooklyn Cyclones' switch hitter Ralph Henriquez in the team's season opener on June 19.
Neither Venditte nor Henriquez could agree upon which side each would pitch and bat, and a game of chicken ensued so infamous that it has since made the highlights on ESPN.
“It had happened once before in college,” Venditte said of the back-and-forth situation. “The other time it worked out in the hitter's advantage. But this time, we had a five run lead, there was two outs and at the time, I just wanted to get the game over with and get my first win for the team.”
Even with that professional win and now five saves under his belt, Venditte seems understandably overwhelmed, but even more humbled. His unusual weapon wasn't something he was born with - it was a learned behavior that took him more than two decades to master.
“It started when I was three,” he said.
“I'm naturally a right hander, but my dad started working with me when I was three and we just kind of kept on going through high school. In my freshman year of college, I wasn't ready for the college game. But in my sophomore through senior years, I did it.”
After graduating high school, Venditte made the baseball team at Creighton as a walk-on. He struggled in his first season, but worked out hard that summer and turned things around dramatically. As a junior, Venditte threw over 41 innings of consecutive scoreless innings and as a senior, he went 9-3 with a 3.34 ERA in 86 1-3 innings. It was more than enough to grab the Yankees' attention.
That, and the attention of most of the team's followers. Older Yankees fans hung around after Sunday's game to wish Venditte well and to let him know they expected to see him in the Bronx sooner rather than later.
Young fans practiced their own ambidextrous pitches in Falcon Park's walk ways and even in an on-field game. Venditte has some practical advice for any kids that aspire to be like him, though.
“It takes a lot of time and a lot of patience,” he said. “There's some trying times in there and it's not all great. I'm sure I'm going to see some downs this season and I just need to take them as they come and keep working hard. Things will look up eventually.”
Things have yet to look down when Venditte is on the hill. Through 9 2-3 innings, he has a 0.73 ERA and has allowed just two hits. He threw 10 pitches against the Doubledays on Sunday to help his team win the three game series.
From his left arm, he got Bryan Kervin to line out to first base in two pitches for the first out. He soon palmed a Chris Hopkins line drive with his right hand , throwing him out at first for out No. 2 before catching Carlos Vasquez looking in five right-armed throws to end the game.
That didn't stop Doubledays fans from getting hats, bats and ticket stubs signed.
And with his teammates long showered and out of Falcon Park, Venditte didn't even enter the visitor's clubhouse until each and every fan - of every age - had his autograph or a picture taken if requested.
“At Creighton, we had a pretty strong following, but nothing like this,” Venditte said. “To get this kind of support and to come to other team's stadiums like this - one guy had a ball with my picture on it today - it's just amazing. I'm so grateful for it. But I can't hang my hat up just yet. I've been fortunate so far, but I've got a long way to go.”
D-days Today
Record: 12-8
Standings:
Second place, 1-game behind
Streak: 2 losses
Next: vs. Staten Island, today, 7 p.m.
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