As impressive as Lake Zurich junior pitcher Nick Verden has been in his first varsity season, opposing hitters haven’t seen everything from him yet.
Verden has pitched only right-handed this season but can throw a baseball with almost the same velocity with both arms.
“It started during COVID when I had a lot of time on my hands,” he said. “I wanted to see if I could do something different, so I started trying to throw with my left hand. At first, I struggled to throw it across my driveway. It wasn’t easy. It still isn’t easy.
“Over the years, I’ve gotten to the point where I can throw the length of an entire football field, which is pretty cool.”
That’s pretty rare too. But it’s not a novelty. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Verden, who has a 13-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has allowed only one hit in seven scoreless innings for the Bears (7-2), trains to equip himself with the tools necessary to get hitters out from both sides.
Verden is more comfortable throwing right-handed, and his velocity can exceed 85 mph with that arm. But he’s routinely able to exceed 80 mph from the left side and can also throw a curveball and a change-up.
Lake Zurich left fielder Nick Verden runs back to the dugout at the end of an inning during a nonconference game against Prospect in Mount Prospect on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (Talia Sprague / News-Sun)
“About two years ago, I really started to work toward doing it and was able to realize I could do it fully,” he said. “My parents were supportive of it, and my travel coaches tried to help me advance it. Over the years, with me showing dedication, they understood I was serious.”
Wearing a specially designed glove that includes a pocket in the center and three fingers on each side, Verden first switch-pitched in public during travel games in July.
“I pitched to a couple of batters right-handed and then a couple of batters left-handed,” he said. “That was the plan going in. I certainly got some comments and looks from the crowd because it’s so different.”
Even Verden’s teammates watch in bewilderment. The feat is not unprecedented — a handful of MLB players have done it, and St. Louis Cardinals prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje can do it — but few people ever get to see it.
“I don’t know how he does it,” Lake Zurich senior pitcher Rylan Lamp said. “It shows that he thought he could accomplish something and was dedicated enough to do it.
“There’s a difference from last year to this year. He’s progressed so much with his velocity, and he really pounds the strike zone.”
Verden begins every outing hoping to have command of all of his pitches, which he admits is a little more difficult to do from the left side. But during his switch-pitching stretch last summer, he had an advantage before he even threw a pitch.
“It gets into the hitters’ heads because it’s like facing a different pitcher,” he said. “It was pretty exciting and felt really good.”
Lake Zurich left fielder Nick Verden tracks a fly ball during a nonconference game against Prospect in Mount Prospect on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (Talia Sprague / News-Sun)
It wasn’t perfect, however.
“One thing I didn’t practice was ground balls,” Verden said. “A ball came back to me, and I was freaked out. I completely botched it.”
Not that fielding is typically a problem for Verden, who has proved to be competent in the outfield this season even though he had never played there before. He had exactly one outdoor practice before he played in left field in a game.
Verden has been a sponge for information and has enjoyed gaining exposure to a different part of the sport.
“It’s very different,” he said. “You have a lot more time, and it’s more relaxed than infield. But it’s pretty exciting to have a new challenge.
“Reading the ball in the wind is something I could improve on. But it’s fun to talk with the outfielders about where to throw for outs and what to do in situations.”
So as first-year Lake Zurich coach Derek Parola continues to piece together the most optimal lineups, one thing for sure is that Verden will be utilized heavily.
“I know we have a certain amount of good arms, so as we move through the season, we’ll see what role he develops into,” Parola said. “He spins the baseball really easily and puts it wherever he wants to. He throws strikes very easily, and he’s one of those kids who’s willing to do anything to win.
“I can tell him a minute before he’s going in, and he’s ready. He’s been a great asset so far.”
Lake Zurich’s Nick Verden swings at a pitch during a nonconference game against Prospect in Mount Prospect on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (Talia Sprague / News-Sun)
Verden is eager to continue improving in every facet of the game.
“I mostly just want to focus on getting outs and not overthrowing my pitches,” he said. “I’m trying to be efficient and get early strikes because the competition at varsity is much better than JV.
“It’s been really exciting. It’s a new experience to be part of something this big.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.