HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s Yordan Alvarez might be the top left-handed hitter in Major League Baseball. Teammate Framber Valdez ranks among the best left-handed pitchers, too. Other than that, those guys are all right. Literally — neither player considers himself left-handed at all. MLB and its history are dotted with men who played out of their natural handedness, a phenomenon that is seen occasionally in other sports but is a regular occurrence on the diamond. Thumb through a pack of baseball cards from just about any era and you’re likely to see players who bat one way and throw the other. Ask them to sign that card and there’s no telling which hand would hold the pen. Valdez writes, eats and even hits (before the introduction of the universal designated hitter) with his right hand. His left arm has helped him make two All-Star teams and throw a no-hitter. What else does he use it for? |
Clarifications and correctionsWas Dubai's apocalyptic storm SELFMan up for parole more than 2 decades after Dartmouth College professor stabbing deathsHow you CAN go on safari on a budget: From gorillas in Uganda to South African elephantsNHL has no appetite to expand playoffs beyond its 16Victory for free speech in the face of Brussels bullies! Nigel Farage returns to rightStephen Williams becomes first British rider to win the Flèche Wallonne. He tamed rivals and snowHofstra's Tyler Thomas chosen as Haggerty Award winnerThe U.N. rights chief says eastern Congo's escalating violence is being forgotten by the worldNathan MacKinnon races to career season, looks to power Colorado Avalanche on another title run