Miami Marlins sign Team Italy switch-pitcher Pat Venditte to minor league contract with invitation to Spring Training

Last seen pitching for Team Italy in the Europe-Africa Olympic Qualifier against Israel and Kingdom of the Netherlands last September. Pat Venditte will be join Team Italy catcher Francisco Cervelli when pitchers and catchers report to Miami Marlins Spring Training in Jupiter, Florida on February 12, 2020. The Miami Marlins signed the 34-year-old ambidextrous pitcher to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training where he will make a bid to make the Opening Day 26-man roster.

Selected by the New York Yankees in the 20th round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, Pat Venditte is a valuable asset for the Marlins in light of the new MLB rule requiring all relievers face a minimum of three batters, unless they record the final out of the inning. The proud Italian American, who uses whichever arm will give him the platoon advantage, is the perfect recipe to combat the new rule's taxing effect on the Marlins bullpen. After making his MLB debut for the Oakland Athletics in 2015, Pat Venditte split time between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners in 2016. He had his biggest success on the major league level in 2018 when made 15 appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers and notched an impressive 2.57 ERA.

Sidelined for nearly two months to help his wife Erin recover from a brain hemorrhage, Pat Venditte managed to make two appearances for the San Francisco Giants in 2019. He spent a majority of the season at Triple-A Sacramento where he pitched 47.1 innings with 59 strikeouts and 17 walks. With four seasons of MLB experience under his belt, Pat Venditte has amassed 68 innings of work, striking out 53 batters while issuing 28 walks. He looks to make his impression felt in Grapefruit League action which begins on February 22, 2020 when the New Yorks Mets host the Miami Marlins in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Forza #Italia!

by Roberto Angotti