Oakland places switch-pitcher Pat Venditte (shoulder) on disabled list
The Oakland Athletics have placed ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder, the team announced Friday. Pitcher Arnold Leon will replace Venditte, joining the big league club from Triple A Nashville
The team was not comfortable exploring the prospect of Venditte, who is the first major league pitcher to pitch with both hands in more than 20 years, pitching with only his left arm.
Manager Bob Melvin said the team wanted to focus on getting Venditte as healthy as possible, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
In 2013, Venditte pitched the entire World Baseball Classic left-handed, according to Fox Sports.
• Pendleton, Ore., newspaper terms Venditte 'amphibious' pitcher
Venditte had succeeded so far with Oakland this season. In four appearances since being called up from Nashville himself, the 29-year-old pitcher gave up only one hit and no runs over 5 2/3 innings, walking two batters and striking out four.
Venditte uses a special six-fingered glove and typically throws left-handed to left-handed batters and right-handed to right-handed batters. Against switch hitters, Venditte must declare which hand he will pitch with. He throws with more velocity from the right side.
In 17 games for Nashville this season Venditte had a 1.36 ERA over 33 innings.
- Will Green
