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In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.

Characteristics[link]

Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often harder to hit than those from the other side. Even so, many switch-hitters do better from one side of the plate than the other. Numerous switch-hitters have achieved a higher batting average on one side, yet have more power from the other. For instance, New York Yankees great Mickey Mantle always considered himself a better right-handed hitter, but hit more home runs left-handed.^[1] (However, many of Mantle's left-handed home runs were struck at Yankee Stadium, a park notorious for being very friendly to left-handed power hitters due to the short right field porch, and Mantle batted left-handed much more often than right-handed, simply because there have always been more right-handed than left-handed pitchers.)

Most switch-hitters have been right-handed throwers, though among other exceptions have been the following players: Lance Berkman, Dave Collins, Doug Dascenzo, Mitch Webster, Wes Parker, Melky Cabrera, Nick Swisher, Justin Smoak, David Segui and J. T. Snow (who in the final years of his career hit exclusively left-handed).

Switch-hitting pitchers are relatively rare. They include Mordecai Brown, Norm Charlton, Vida Blue,^[2] Marvin Rotblatt, Sid Monge, Johnny Vander Meer, J.C. Romero, Kyle Snyder, Wandy Rodriguez, Troy Patton, Tim Dillard, Tyler Johnson, Carlos Zambrano, Dock Ellis, Anthony Claggett, Kris Medlen, and Drew Storen. Joaquín Andújar sometimes hit right-handed against lefties, sometimes left-handed.

Management also had a say in the switch-hitting careers of Bob Gibson and Dwight Gooden. Both Gibson and Gooden—each right-handed, and a fine hitting pitcher—had reached the major leagues as a switch-hitter, and both their teams required them to bat only right-handed, to reduce the possibility of their pitching arms being hit by a pitch.

See also[link]

• Ambidexterity
• Switch pitcher
• Switch hit

References[link]

1. ^ "Mickey Mantle Obituary", Baseball Almanac. Retrieved on July 14, 2008.
2. ^ Stone, Larry (16 July 2006). "10 great moments in switch-hitting history". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003130073_moments16.html. Retrieved 29 October 2010. 

v t e Baseball positions Pitchers by role Ace pitcher Starting pitcher Relief pitcher Middle relief pitcher Long reliever Setup pitcher Closer Left-handed specialist by style Fireballer Power pitcher Control pitcher Groundball pitcher Flyball pitcher Switch pitcher Defensive players by number Pitcher (1 / P) Catcher (2 / C) First baseman (3 / 1B) Second baseman (4 / 2B) Third baseman (5 / 3B) Shortstop (6 / SS) Left fielder (7 / LF) Center fielder (8 / CF) Right fielder (9 / RF) by type Infielder Outfielder Utility player Utility infielder Position player Battery Fourth outfielder Corner outfielder Offensive players by role Batter Runner Batting order (1–9) Designated hitter Pinch hitter Pinch runner Lead off Leadoff hitter Cleanup hitter by style Clutch hitter Contact hitter Switch hitter Non-players Official scorer Umpire Manager Coaches General manager Related Disabled list Phantom ballplayer

As One
Background information
Origin	South Korea
Genres	K-pop, R&B
Years active	1999–present
Labels	EMI Korea
Members
Min Young Lee Crystal Chae

As One is a Korean pop duo consisting of Korean Americans Min Young Lee and Crystal Chae. Their first hit was the song "너만은 모르길," released in 1999 on Rock Records Between their fourth and fifth albums, their contract with Rock Records expired and they signed with EMI Korea; a label which also manages other k-pop stars like DJ DOC and Baby VOX. In late 2006, As One released their fifth album 12 Tears of Farewell, and started their promotional activities with the lead track "십이야" (12 Nights).

As One Member Profiles[link]

Crystal Chae[link]

• Date of Birth: (1980-04-29) April 29, 1980 (age 32)
• Place of birth: Los Angeles, California
• School: Chatsworth High School
• Religion: Christian
• Family: father, mother, older brother, older sister

Min Young Lee[link]

• Date of Birth: (1978-12-15) December 15, 1978 (age 33)
• Place of birth: Seoul, South Korea
• School: Fairfax High School
• Religion: Christian
• Family: mother, brother

Discography[link]

Studio Albums[link]

Extended Plays[link]

1. [2000.06.28] ONE+ONE
2. [2002.05.22] As One Live Album
3. [2002.11.26] Caroling
4. [2003.11.18] Forever AS ONE (BEST)
5. [2007.03.13] 우리가 알고있는 (So Romantic)
6. [2008.05.14] Double Star (Mini Album)
7. [2010.04.29] The Happiness 4 Us 2nd

Singles[link]

1. [1999.11.25] Ring My Bell
2. [2000.05.01] 사랑+
3. [2000.06.14] Day By Day
4. [2006.12.14] I Wanna be a Christmas
5. [2008.04.03] Sponge Remake 2008 As One
6. [2008.09.01] Zza Zza La!! (Drama Version)
7. [2010.06.16] As One Season 1
8. [2010.09.08] History - As One 연애
9. [2011.01.17] Taste of Love
10. [2011.01.28] NEPA SONG(네파송)
11. [2011.07.07] As One Season 2
12. [2011.11.21] As One Season 2.5

Collaborations[link]

• 사랑도 돈이 되나요 (I'm Still In Love), Can Love Become Money OST, 2012
• Only U, with Donghae, 2012
• Xoxo, with Humming Urban Stereo, 2011
• Lovin Ice Cream, with Ez-Life & (Haro), 2011
• Flight 101, with Oneway, 2011
• 그대도 나처럼, with Yurisangja, 2010
• 그대 뒤에서 (Behind You), The Reputable Family OST, 2010
• 홀로 크리스마스 (White Winter), with Lee Jun (of Solid), Alex, Navi, and Bizniz, 2009
• 사랑할 수도 미워할 수도 (Neither Love Nor Hate), De La Musique Vol.1 - Part 1, 2009
• Cool Running, with Soul Dive, 2009
• 헤어져 (Breakup), Love Tonic OST, 2009
• To Heart, Listen Campaign OST, 2008
• 사랑은 너 하나뿐 (You Only Love), The Rival Project with GO and Shogun, 2008
• 마지막 사랑 (Last Love), with E Sang, 2008
• Smile, with JED, 2007
• White Love Story, The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince OST, 2007
• 네잎클로버 (Four-leaf Clover), MBC Creative Children's 25th Anniversary, 2007
• Happy My Star (Drama Version), Couple of Fantasy OST, 2006
• 가시나무 (Bramble), The Wave - Blessing & Caroling, 2005
• Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Groovy Christmas, 2005
• 미안해야 하는거니 (Do I Have To Say Sorry), Sassy Girl, Chun Hyang OST, 2005
• Sleigh Ride, 2004 Christmas Story, 2004
• 원하고 원망하죠 (Want & Complain), Black Coffee 4, 2004
• Loving You, Classic CF, 2004
• 투명에 가까운 블루 (Transparent Blue), Classic CF, 2004
• 하늘정원 (Garden of Heaven), Garden of Heaven OST, 2003
• 스물다섯 (Precious You), with Kim Jin Pyo, 2003
• Feel...Me, with Park Hyo Shin,2002
• 소중한 너 (Precious You), with Cho Kyuchan, 2002
• Born Twice, with DVS, 2001
• Gook Thuggin, with DVS, 2001

References[link]

Pat Venditte
Venditte pitching right-handed for the Staten Island Yankees
New York Yankees
Relief pitcher
Born: (1985-06-30) June 30, 1985 (age 26) Omaha, Nebraska
Bats: Right	Throws: Switch

Patrick Michael Venditte, Jr. (born June 30, 1985 in Omaha, Nebraska) is an American baseball player. He is a minor league baseball player currently in the New York Yankees organization. After attending Creighton University, the Yankees drafted Venditte in 2008. He currently pitches for the Class-AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in the International League.

Venditte is a switch pitcher, capable of pitching proficiently with both arms. He is recognized as the only active professional pitcher who is able to do this.^[1][2] Venditte's rare ability to pitch with either arm required minor league baseball to create a rule for ambidextrous pitchers, known colloquially as the "Pat Venditte Rule".

Early life[link]

Pat Jr. was born on June 30, 1985 in Omaha, Nebraska, one of four children of Pat Sr. and Janet Venditte.^[3] Though his son is naturally right-handed, Pat Sr. trained his son to throw with both arms to give his son an edge in athletic competitions.^[4] Toward this end, the Venditte backyard included astroturf, a batting cage, a radar gun, and a pitching machine.^[5] In addition to training both arms from a young age, Pat Jr. practiced punting footballs with both legs to establish the leg motion needed when pitching with each arm.^[3]

Venditte used both arms when playing in little league which sometimes caused him to be confused for twins.^[4][5] Venditte attended Omaha Central High School. He had a 5-4 win-loss record during his senior year, earning All-Nebraska second team honors.^[3]

College career[link]

Venditte joined the Creighton Bluejays in 2005 as a walk-on. Creighton head coach Ed Servais did not allow Venditte to pitch with both arms during his five appearances his freshman year fearing the spectacle would become a "circus". However, Venditte has regularly used both arms in collegiate play since his sophomore year in which he attained a 3.02 ERA in 62.2 innings. In his junior year, Venditte appeared in 36 of Creighton's 58 games before going into the 2007 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. His opponents batting average of .185 was the fourth best in the nation, and he achieved an 1.85 ERA.^[6] At one point during the season, Venditte had a streak of 43 ²⁄₃ scoreless innings.^[7] In the 2007 season, Venditte earned first-team all-conference honors for the Missouri Valley Conference and led Creighton to its first conference championship in which he was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.^[8] On May 28, 2007, Collegiate Baseball named Venditte the national player of the week.^[6] He was named to the All-American third team for the 2007 season.^[9] Venditte was also voted Midwest Region Pitcher of the Year by online pitching magazine InsidePitching.com.^[10]

On June 8, 2007, the New York Yankees selected Venditte in the 45th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft with the 1345th pick. Venditte was surprised by the pick because he had told all major league scouts that he intended to return to Creighton for his senior year. The Yankees called him during the 30th round of the draft asking him how much it would take to sign him, but Venditte refused to set a price.^[7] Ultimately, the Yankees were unable to sign Venditte before the August 15, 2007 signing deadline.^[11] Venditte said that he was not quite ready to turn professional and wanted to build velocity with his left arm and add another pitch with his right arm.^[11]

Venditte played 2006 summer ball for the Central Illinois Collegiate League's Quincy Gems, and 2007 summer ball for the Wisconsin Woodchucks in the Northwoods League. As the Woodchucks' closer, he had a 4-1 record, 9 saves, a 1.76 ERA, and a .154 opponents' batting average.^[11]

He was again drafted by the Yankees in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, in the 20th round with the 620th overall pick, and decided to sign.

Professional career[link]

Venditte pitching for the Trenton Thunder left-handed

His initial assignment was to the Staten Island Yankees of the Class-A Short-Season New York–Penn League. On June 19, 2008, in his first minor league appearance with Staten Island against the Brooklyn Cyclones, Venditte pitched a scoreless ninth inning for a Yankees win. Before Venditte faced the last Cyclone batter, Ralph Henriquez, a switch-hitter, upon choosing to bat left- or right-handed (with Venditte subsequently choosing to pitch with the same hand), Henriquez would then go to the other side of the plate (and adjust his shin guard—which is worn on the front leg when a batter takes his stance) to regain the advantage. After this had happened several times the teams appealed to the umpiring crew, which ruled that the batter must first select from which side of the plate he intended to hit, and that the pitcher would then be allowed to declare with which arm he would pitch. Venditte subsequently struck out Henriquez, who slammed his bat against the dirt, to end the game. A film of the incident received notoriety on the Internet and the tale was recounted in a number of places, including within the baseball compendium Rollie's Follies.^[12]

Venditte completed the 2008 season with 23 saves in 30 appearances with a 0.83 ERA. His performance earned him a spot on the New York–Penn League All-Star team and the Minor League Baseball Yearly Award for Best Short-Season Reliever.^[13]

For the 2009 season, he was assigned to the Charleston RiverDogs of the Class-A South Atlantic League.^[14] He was promoted to the Tampa Yankees of the Class A Advanced Florida State League on June 26, 2009.^[15] He finished the regular season with a 2.21 ERA and 2 saves in 21 appearances. In October, Venditte pitched for Águilas del Zulia in the Venezuelan Winter League.

Venditte pitched for the Yankees in a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves on March 30, 2010, giving up one earned run on two hits and a walk in 1 ¹⁄₃ innings.^[16] He started the 2010 season in Tampa, posting a 1.73 ERA through 72 ²⁄₃ innings in 41 appearances. On August 31, 2010 Venditte was promoted to the Trenton Thunder of the Class-AA Eastern League.^[17]

Venditte pitched to a 3.41 ERA in 51 appearances with Trenton in 2011.^[4] Though Venditte was eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft during the 2011–12 offseason, the Yankees chose not to protect him.^[18] However, he was not chosen by any MLB team.^[19] During the 2011-12 offseason, Venditte pitched in the Mexican Pacific League.^[20]

Venditte was promoted to the Class-AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of the International League for Opening Day in 2012.^[21][22]

Pitching style[link]

When using his right arm, Venditte delivers over the top and can throw a slider and curveball, as well as a fastball at around 90 miles per hour (140 km/h) that tops out at 94 miles per hour (151 km/h).^[4][23] His left-handed delivery is side-armed in which he throws a slider and a fastball that averages 85 miles per hour (137 km/h).^[4] Though Venditte is considered a fan favorite and has excellent minor league numbers, he is not considered a top prospect because of his age and underwhelming fastball velocity.^[24]

Venditte uses a custom made six-fingered glove with a thumb-hole on each side allowing him to easily switch back and forth.^[4][25] He generally pitches with his right arm against right-handed batters and left-handed against left-handed batters which minimizes his opponent's advantage when strategically ordering batters in the line-up based on which side of the plate they hit from.^[5] Furthermore, by splitting his pitches between his arms, he is able to pitch longer than traditional pitchers before becoming fatigued.^[5]

The Pat Venditte Rule[link]

Venditte's rare ambidextrous abilities prompted the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation (PBUC) to issue a new rule for dealing with ambidextrous pitchers, limiting the number of times that a switch-pitcher and switch-hitter can change sides during one at-bat. After consulting with a variety of sources, including the Major League Baseball Rules Committee, the PBUC issued its new guidelines on July 3, 2008. It reads:^[26]

• The pitcher must visually indicate to the umpire, batter and runner(s) which way he will begin pitching to the batter. Engaging the rubber with the glove on a particular hand is considered a definitive commitment to with which arm he will throw. The batter will then choose which side of the plate he will bat from.
• The pitcher is not permitted to pitch with the other hand until the batter is retired, the batter becomes a runner, the inning ends, the batter is substituted for by a pinch-hitter or the pitcher incurs an injury.
• Any switch (by either the pitcher or the batter) must be clearly indicated to the umpire. There will be no warm-up pitches during the change of arms.
• If an injury occurs the pitcher may change arms but not use that arm again during the remainder of the game.

See also[link]

	Biography portal
	Baseball portal

• Greg A. Harris, the only "switch-pitcher" in major-league baseball's modern era

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pat Venditte

• Career statistics and player information from The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• YouTube: CSTV Segment on Pat Venditte
• YouTube: Pat Venditte earning his 23rd save (SI Yankees record)
• Player profile on riverdogs.com
• Pat Venditte Fan Club
• E:60 Pat Venditte
• Pat Venditte - MiLB statistics