San Francisco Giants add Pat Venditte on major league deal

The San Francisco Giants may finally be giving switch pitcher Pat Venditte a longer look at the major league level.

Pat Venditte has been an oddity throughout his professional baseball career. As the only true switch pitcher in the history of the game, he has spent his 11 year professional career trying to prove that he belongs in the majors, but only getting limited action. Seemingly regarded as a depth piece, albeit an intriguing one, Venditte has not had a chance to show what he can do in the majors over a full season.

The San Francisco Giants may be changing that. Looking to find pieces for their bullpen, they have inked Venditte to a major league contract, presumably giving the switch pitcher his best chance to make a major league impact.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

For just over the major league minimum, this is an excellent gamble for the Giants. Last year, in his 14 innings with the Dodgers, Venditte showed the potential to be a viable major league piece, posting a 2.57 ERA and a 1.000 WHiP, striking out nine batters with only three walks. This was better than his career effort in the majors, where he has a 4.45 ERA and a 1.284 WHiP over 64.2 innings, striking out 51 batters while issuing 26 walks.

While he pitches with both hands, Venditte has been more effective as a lefty against left handed hitters. In 108 plate appearances as southpaw facing lefty batters, he has held the opposition to a .190/.231/.370 batting line, issuing only six walks while striking out 30 batters.

That same level of success has not come as a righty against right handed hitters. In those matchups, Venditte has permitted a .259/.372/.472 batting line over 129 plate appearances, issuing 16 walks while striking out only 15 batters.

It will be fascinating to see how the Giants look to utilize Venditte in their bullpen. Given these splits, he seems best suited as a lefty specialist, albeit one that could stay in for the right handed bat in the midst of a series of lefties. His role would seem to be clear, but the Giants do not have anything to lose by seeing if he can be a weapon with both arms. If not, then Venditte could be the most unique lefty specialist in the game.

The San Francisco Giants have signed Pat Venditte to a major league deal. This may be his best chance to show that he is more than an oddity, and can be a viable option in a major league bullpen.