While the Los Angeles Dodgers exercised financial restraint last offseason as a means of remaining below the luxury tax threshold, the front office did make a slew of signings to fill out organizational depth. Inking Pat Venditte to a Minor League contract was among them.
Vednitte’s deal included an invitation to Spring Training and though he impressed, the switch-pitcher began the 2018 season with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Venditte went 2-0 with one save and a 1.53 ERA through 15 appearances before earning a promotion.
He held opponents to a feeble .167/.239/.200 batting line and recorded 19 strikeouts in 17.2 innings during that stretch. Venditte spent one week with the Dodgers in May before being optioned back to Oklahoma City.
However, before the 33-year-old so much as left Los Angeles, he was recalled because Rich Hill landed on the 10-day disabled list. Venditte appeared in three games during that time, allowing two runs over 2.2 innings.
With getting optioned and recalled in between, he appeared in two more games for the Dodgers (May 30 and June 8) before remaining with Oklahoma City into the middle of August. Vednitte wound up going 4-2 with four saves, a 1.75 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 45 Triple-A games.
With the Dodgers, he finished the season with a 2.57 ERA, 3.87 FIP and 1.00 WHIP in 15 games. Venditte collected nine strikeouts against three walks across 14 innings in those appearances.
2018 Highlight
Venditte making his Dodgers debut was noteworthy in that it was his first time pitching in the Majors since 2016. Though, there was also a stretch of 10 games (over two separate stints up from the Minors) in which Venditte tossed a 9.2 shutout innings.
He allowed just three hits, two walks and had five strikeouts over that time, all the while holding opponents to a .100/.182/.133 batting line.
2019 Outlook
Venditte figures to return in a similar role with the Dodgers next season. He still has an option year remaining, which along with being a switch-pitcher, makes him all the more valuable to a team such as the Dodgers.
