Venditte started out in the Yankees organization and methodically worked his way up each ladder of the Minor League system. He signed a Minor League contract with the A's in the offseason, and he's posted a 2.37 ERA and held hitters to a .215 average during his Minor League career.
Venditte will be the first ambidextrous pitcher in Major League Baseball since Greg Harris accomplished the feat in 1995. Harris, a natural right-hander, recorded outs with his left and right arms on Sept. 28, 1995.
Venditte wears a special glove that has six fingers and room for his thumb on either side, and he typically pitches with whichever arm will allow him to have the same-side advantage against a given hitter.