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Junior PJ Rogan’s ability as an ambidextrous pitcher gives the Pios the right matchup for any at-bat

From the spring 2026 issue of Sacred Heart University Magazine

Key Highlights

• Sacred Heart junior PJ Rogan is an ambidextrous pitcher, capable of throwing competitively with both his left and right arms—a skill possessed by only a handful of elite baseball players
• His unique ability gives the Pioneers a significant tactical advantage, allowing coaches to create favorable pitcher-versus-hitter matchups regardless of whether batters hit left- or right-handed
• Head coach Pat Egan says Rogan's versatility changes bullpen strategy, enabling the coaching staff to focus on game situations rather than simply matching pitcher handedness to opposing hitters

Baseball has always been a game that rewards strategy. For the Sacred Heart University Pioneers and head coach Pat Egan, their roster holds the ultimate Swiss Army knife in ambidextrous relief pitcher PJ Rogan.

“The biggest advantage is matchup control,” says Rogan when asked about his unique ability. Hitters statistically struggle most against pitchers who throw from their same side, leading managers to obsessively swap players to ensure a righty-on-righty or lefty-on-lefty advantage. For the Pios, Rogan can manufacture an edge against any batter in the lineup.

During Rogan’s childhood in St. Louis, MO, routine games of catch revealed to Rogan’s father that the natural lefty could throw the ball back with whatever hand he caught the ball with, and from there, Rogan’s journey as an ambidextrous pitcher began. Rogan’s multisport childhood, which included football, basketball, and tennis, also helped him consistently train both arms. By the age of 7, he began using his versatility on the baseball diamond as a right-handed pitcher and shortstop for
one team and a left-handed pitcher and centerfielder for another. With that, he built his foundation for ambidextrous excellence. Still, the true transformation happened in his own backyard.

“My time with two teams helped develop my athleticism and pitching skills while staying involved in the game,” Rogan says. “My parents are my biggest inspiration; they understood how difficult throwing from both sides is and kept pushing me. My dad and I put in countless hours of work together, and I will forever be grateful for everything he and my mom have done for me.”

Rogan’s versatility doesn’t just provide him with personal confidence; it has fundamentally shifted Egan’s coaching philosophy. With Rogan in the bullpen, Egan can navigate high-leverage situations with unique certainty.

^{Mirror Image: By age 7, PJ Rogan was pitching right-handed and playing shortstop for one team while pitching left-handed and playing centerfield for another.}

“PJ’s ability has allowed us the flexibility to use him at any juncture in a game, regardless of the matchup,” Egan explains. “With PJ, it becomes less about the handedness of the hitter and more about the timing of the game, knowing when it’s the right situation to leverage him and his ability.”

Rogan’s skill is rare. Currently, there is only one switch pitcher in MLB, Jurrangelo Cijntje, recently acquired by Rogan’s hometown Cardinals. Before Cijntje’s Major League debut, the most recent and first recognized big-league switch pitcher was Pat Venditte, who spent time with the Yankees and several other franchises from 2015 to 2020. Venditte and the skill itself were so rare that MLB created a rule requiring switch pitchers to indicate to the umpire which side they will pitch from before every atbat, a regulation now known around the league as the “Pat Venditte Rule.”

This rule applies to Rogan at the collegiate level as well and adds another layer to his preparation. It has required him to take additional steps to build command with both arms, earning the trust of his coaching staff and ensuring that his ability remains a competitive advantage.

“The biggest challenge is simply understanding how difficult it is to do what PJ does,” Egan says. “When it comes to coaching cues and adjustments, PJ is very coachable. But when you constantly flip the glove and switch arms, it can be difficult to get the same reps that other pitchers get daily. To PJ’s credit, he has developed a routine that allows him to maximize both arms every day.”

Rogan leans on a rigorous practice schedule to emulate his pitching idols, Pedro Martinez and David Price. Yet, before each game, he finds himself watching the highlights of Cijntje and Venditte, who give him the standard to strive for in his career.

“This season, my personal goal is to be a consistent, dependable player whom my teammates and coaches can trust in any situation,” Rogan says. “For the team, the goal is to win and show up every day ready to leave everything on the field. For me, I believe in my ability and the work I’ve put in, and I want to continue earning opportunities at the next level.”

It is that blend of singular skill, relentless work ethic, and quiet confidence that might just take him there.