A’s ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte is put on disabled list

Pat Venditte can pitch effectively with either arm, but the Oakland A’s aren’t taking any chances with his health.

The Athletics placed Venditte -- the first full-time switch-pitcher in the modern era -- on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder, the club announced Friday via its Twitter account.

“He obviously can be affected by his delivery on the other side, and we just want to make sure we try to get him as healthy as we can as quickly as we can,” A’s Manager Bob Melvin said. “It didn’t make any sense for him to try to just pitch left-handed.”

Venditte, 29, made his big league debut last Friday. In 5 2/3 innings of work spanning four games, he gave up one hit, two walks and no earned runs.

“He was great,” Melvin said. “He did anything we needed him to do on a particular day … it’s extremely unique to get an individual who can do that.”

Venditte’s shoulder has been a cause for concern in the past. He tore the labrum in his right shoulder in 2012. At the time, he briefly attempted to play with his left arm before eventually abandoning the idea.

“He thought about it, he gave it its due, but at the end of the day, he felt like it just wasn’t who he was, and he just wanted to focus on the rehab,” said Marc Kligman, Venditte’s agent.

Venditte told reporters he plans to take a week off before re-assessing his options. He doesn’t believe the injury is serious and hopes to return at the end of his 15-day stint.

“We’re looking forward to getting him back,” Melvin said.