A Closer Look: Patrick Venditte
This post is part of the MLB Draft 2008 get-to-know the draftees series.
With the 620th overall pick (20th round) of the 2008 MLB draft, the New York Yankees selected a right-handed pitcher out of Creighton University- Patrick Venditte. Patrick is an extremely unique draftee, as he is the only ambidextrous pitcher in the country. He is successful at pitching with both arms and that can certainly be a very valuable trait if he can make the bigs. The 6-1, 190lbs also bats from both sides of the plate, making him extremely desirable.
Venditte was born and raised in Omaha Nebraska, attending Omaha Central High School, and then electing to stay at home and attend Creighton University, a small Jesuit Catholic University. He was drafted in the 45th round of the 2007 draft, also by the Yankees, but elected to return to school for his senior season where he made the All-American first team going 9-3 with a 3.34 era and 7 saves. He pitched 86.1 innings, and appeared in 37 games, which led the conference and ranked second in the country. He struck out 101 batters in those 86.1 innings.
He recorded a strikeout with both his right and left arm in 17 of his 35 games this year, and 39 times in his career. Venditte was used out of the Blue Jays’ (Creighton Blue Jays, not Toronto) bullpen and pitched upwards of three innings an outing. He made his second career start against Nebraska on April 23rd.
This guy could be a very valuable asset to the Yankees bullpen in the future. He doesn’t have the most over-powering stuff, but he can throw strikes and fool hitters. How about a righty specialist and a lefty specialist, all in one? Very good decision by the Yankees to pick this guy up for a second straight year!
This post is part of the MLB Draft 2008 get-to-know the draftees series.
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