Dodgers to send Pat Venditte to Triple-A Oklahoma City

PHOENIX — The Dodgers have told relief pitcher Pat Venditte that he will start the season in Triple-A Oklahoma City, as the club nears finalizing its opening day roster.

Venditte was the last non-roster invitee remaining in Dodgers camp and impressed from both sides, posting a 1.74 ERA in nine appearances, with 13 strikeouts and three walks in 10⅓ innings.

“The thing that stands out most about Patrick is the ability to get a bad swing,” manager Dave Roberts said. “That translates into guys being uncomfortable and not seeing him well, there’s a little funk in there, and soft contact.”

Roberts said the club would likely trim two or three players off the roster before the Dodgers break camp on Saturday and head back to southern California for the Freeway Series. There are only four more roster cuts the club needs to get down to 25 players for opening day.

The club has yet to make official the Venditte reassignment to minor league camp. He is slated to pitch in Friday’s game against the Royals in Surprise, but won’t make the trip to the Freeway Series.

“When you come in as a non-roster, the biggest thing you have to do is show them you can come in and help get outs. Fortunately for me I got a lot of opportunities over here and I’m very grateful for that,” Venditte said. “I was able to show them what I can do, and I’ll go to Oklahoma City and hopefully show them that I can help at some point this season.”

The Dodgers plan to extend Venditte to multiple innings, something he hasn’t really done much this spring, though he did have one appearance of five outs and two more recording four outs.

“For Pat just to continue to see if he can go two innings to be a guy who can help us,” Roberts said.