In Major League Baseball, it’s not uncommon to find players who bat one way and throw the other. Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez and Framber Valdez are prime examples of this phenomenon. Alvarez, one of the best left-handed hitters in the game, throws, writes, and eats with his right hand. Similarly, Valdez, a top left-handed pitcher, does everything else right-handed.
Valdez made a conscious decision to become a left-handed pitcher at a young age, practicing daily until he felt comfortable at age 11. Alvarez, like many young players, wanted to be a switch-hitter but found himself more at ease batting left-handed, just like his father.
Across the majors, 95 position players currently bat left and throw right, including the talented Shohei Ohtani. Houston also has the only two players who throw left and bat right: Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers.
Toronto’s George Springer, a righty hitter and thrower, surprised his teammate Justin Turner by writing with his left hand. Springer considers himself left-handed in all aspects except baseball and golf.
Dr. Stephen D. Christman, a handedness expert, explains that left-handers are more likely to be ambidextrous because they are forced to adapt in a world designed for right-handers.
While playing out of one’s natural handedness is rare in other sports, there are exceptions, such as NBA superstar LeBron James, who is naturally left-handed but plays right-handed.
Throughout MLB history, many great players have played out of their natural handedness, including the legendary Babe Ruth. With practice, Christman believes anyone can learn to use their non-dominant hand effectively.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.