Switch hitters have been a part of baseball almost as long as baseball has been in the public eye. Creighton University has a secret weapon that is bound to confuse batters coming to the plate. Be on the lookout in the major leagues for Pat Venditte. Remember that name!

Pat, a junior at Creighton is believed to be the only switch pitcher in N.C.A.A. Division I college baseball. His ability to do this, no doubt confuses batters and give him the “upper hand” regarding his curveball and slider. In a home game in Omaha last Friday, he allowed only one hit in five and a third shutout innings to earn the victory against Northern Iowa. Because neither arm was particularly tired afterward, Venditte also pitched in both games of Creighton’s doubleheader against Northern Iowa two days later, retiring the only batter he faced (left-handed) in the first game and then tossing a shutout inning (pitching both ways) in the nightcap. He also pitched two innings, alternating arms, in Tuesday’s game against archrival Nebraska.

Venditte even has a custom made glove with four finger holes and two separate holes for his thumbs, allowing him to use the same glove whether he’s pitching left-handed or right handed.
Venditte has improved so much in the past year that major league scouts are beginning to consider him a possible late-round pick in this June’s amateur draft because of his versatility.

Check out this video on the NY Times website to watch him throw from both sides.