Pitching with both arms for the Yankees

Football

Pitching with both arms for the Yankees

KISSIMMEE, Florida - Ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte threw with both arms for the New York Yankees on Tuesday, giving up one run in 1 1/3 innings during a 9-6 split-squad loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Making his first appearance for the Yankees, Venditte took over for CC Sabathia with two outs in the fifth inning and tossed four warm-up pitches with each hand. He switched back and forth, depending on whom he was facing, and gave up two hits and a walk.

The 24-year-old reliever, who uses a six-finger glove, pitched for two teams in Class A last season and went a combined 4-2 with 22 saves and a 1.87 ERA. He is scheduled to begin the season at Class A Tampa.

If he makes the majors, Venditte wouldn’t be the first pitcher to throw as a left-hander and right-hander. Greg Harris, who pitched for Cincinnati, Montreal, San Diego, Texas, Philadelphia, Boston and the Yankees from 1981-95, was a righty throughout his career. He pitched from the left side for two batters in the second-to-last game of his career.

AP