What’s next for M’s switch-pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje

It may be the Seattle Mariners’ position player prospects who are closest to the big leagues, and they have indeed impressed in camp, but it was a future M’s pitcher who stole the show in Friday night’s Spring Breakout game against the Cleveland Guardians in Goodyear, Ariz.

A switch-pitcher.

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Jurrangelo Cijntje, the Mariners’ top pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, pitched in his first professional game, and yes, he threw from both sides.

Entering the game in the fifth inning, the 21 year old pitched lefty to face his first batter, last year’s No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana, who grounded out on the only pitch he saw. Cijntje then switched to right-handed for the rest of his outing. Topping out at 98.9 mph on his fastball from the right side, he surrendered one run in two innings pitched, walking two and striking out two in his first outing since finishing his college career at Mississippi State last June (watch Cijntje’s highlights from Friday below).

It was barely a glimpse but one that left you wanting for more. The question now is what’s next for the Curaçaoan. How do you handle and further develop such a unique and special talent? During the Seattle Sports radio broadcast of Friday’s game, Mariners general manager Justin Hollander acknowledged the fact that there is really no blueprint for such a pitcher.

The Mariners have come up with a working plan, however. They will start Cijntje primarily as a right-hander who may or may not go through a pocket of hitters one time in an outing as a left-hander. If that sounds like they will be mostly limiting him to throwing as a righty, that’s not the case. Things will get interesting as the plan is for Cijntje to throw throw a right-handed bullpen on side day, then pitch in relief as a left-hander that night.

“We do think it is important for him to work on getting out a hitter without the platoon advantage,” Hollander said. “Work on the changeup, work on how to mix locations, pitch to his best repertoire. He’s not always going to have the platoon advantage. I don’t think that’s probably an effective way to develop him, so giving him the opportunity to work both sides of the plate, use his full pitch mix to both lefties and righties, I think that’s important.”

The key word from Hollander was develop. The Mariners will develop Cijntje as they would any other prospect – there will just be much more to develop. The Mariners’ pitching lab is going to have some fun.
As for what they are currently working with? Two different pitchers, according to Hollander.

“It is very different – more of a low release, more Luis Castillo four-seamers, sliders, developing changeup right-handed. 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.”

Cijntje’s development as a professional will start with many questions. How do you develop pitches? When does he pitch right-handed? When does he pitch left-handed? How does he throw a bullpen? And for that matter, Mariners broadcaster Gary Hill asked, what are the biomechanics of using both sides? That was a question Hollander had pre-draft. He got a very reassuring offer just days before the draft began.

“(Mariners director or pitching strategy Trent Blank) and the group he works with had him as the best mover in the draft as a right-hander starter,” Hollander said. “The most efficient delivery, the most athletic delivery. He had their top score. When that came across, it means a lot to us when Trent thinks that highly of a pitcher.”

Blank was responsible for finding and advocating for the Mariners to select Bryan Woo with a high draft pick. Biomechanically, Blank saw something others were unable to see in Woo, who didn’t have standout college numbers, had only recently converted from infielder to pitcher, and was recovering from Tommy John Surgery. Blank was relentless in promoting Woo to the group and to date, and that move has certainly paid off. The pick of Cijntje, a little easier but even more intriguing.

What happens next? The journey begins, and it should be fascinating to follow.

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