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Seattle Mariners switch-pitching prospect stars in pro debut
Jurrangelo Cijntje’s pro debut certainly lived up to the hype.
Another M’s prospect moves into Baseball America’s Top 100
Cijntje, the Seattle Mariners’ 2024 first-round draft pick and unicorn switch-pitching prospect, struck out six batters over four scoreless innings in High-A Everett’s 8-0 win over Spokane on Saturday night. He allowed just one hit and two walks.
And yes, he threw with both arms.
Making his minor league debut, Cijntje pitched right-handed for 11 batters and left-handed for three baters. As a righty, he struck out six batters and retired 10 of 11. As a lefty, he retired one batter and yielded two walks.
Cijntje told the Spokesman-Review that his right-handed fastball hit 100 mph on the radar gun Saturday night. Last month, he reached 98.9 mph from the right side during the Mariners’ Spring Breakout game for top prospects.
Cijntje (pronounced SAIN-jah) was the No. 15 overall pick in last summer’s MLB Draft. The 21-year-old Dutch native spent his college career at Mississippi State, where he typically threw right-handed against righty batters and left-handed against lefty batters.
During the Seattle Sports radio broadcast of last month’s Spring Breakout game, Mariners general manager Justin Hollander explained how Cijntje’s pitching profile differs by arm.
“It is very different – more of a low release, more Luis Castillo four-seamers, sliders, developing changeup right-handed,” Hollander said. “And left-handed, it’s more sinker/slider. Taylor Saucedo is a fair comp. Way different mix. I do think that will evolve over time as he gets in our system.”
What’s next for M’s switch-pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje
While Cijntje’s stuff is currently better from the right side, Hollander said the plan is for him to continue developing both arms.
Switch-pitchers have been an extreme rarity in MLB history. The only one who did so consistently was journeyman reliever Pat Venditte, who made 61 relief appearances in the majors between 2015 and 2020.
Cijntje throws significantly harder than Venditte, who as a 45th-round pick was not nearly as highly regarded of a prospect.
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