The Seattle Mariners might have a cheat code developing in their minor league system in the form of switch pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje.
Cijntje created a ton of buzz with his two-inning outing in Saturday’s spring training game against the Cleveland Guardians. The switch-pitcher showed off impressive velocity with both arms. He hit 92 MPH with one pitch as a lefty, then hit 95 MPH while throwing with his right arm one pitch later.
92 MPH lefty one pitch
— MLB (@MLB) March 15, 2025
95 MPH righty the next one
Jurrangelo Cijntje is electric ⚡️ #SpringBreakout pic.twitter.com/sZy7Tmlu3A
Cijntje prefers pitching right-handed, and opted to go that route against nine of the ten batters he faced. That included seven left-handers, even though he had the ability to switch arms and face them left-on-left.
Notably, Cijntje faced Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, twice during his outing. The first time they faced off, Cijntje faced Bazzana as a lefty, but then struck him out with a 97 MPH fastball as a right-hander the second time.
“I was already in a rhythm, and I was like, ‘I’m going to keep throwing from my right side,” Cijntje said, via Daniel Kramer of MLB.com.
Pitching right-handed, Jurrangelo Cijntje gets Travis Bazzana swinging on a 97 mph fastball 🔥
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 15, 2025
The switch-pitching @Mariners prospect records his second professional K at #SpringBreakout: pic.twitter.com/XM5Q2FYl8y
Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said during Friday’s broadcast that the Mariners intend to use Cijntje primarily as a right-handed starter who could also switch sides. He could also operate as a left-handed reliever between starts.
Cijnteje was up to 98.9 from the right side.
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) March 15, 2025
Hollander on broadcast said the working plan is to start him primarily as a RHP who may or may not go through a pocket of righties 1 time as a LHP. Will throw a RH bullpen on his side day, then pitch in relief that day as a LHP.
In total, Cijntje completed two innings, allowing two hits and an unearned run with two walks and two strikeouts.
Baseball has seen switch pitchers before, most famously Pat Venditte. Cijntje throws harder than Venditte, however, and is a more complete prospect. He started to garner attention as a freshman at Mississippi State, and was ultimately taken with the No. 15 overall pick in last year’s draft. The 21-year-old is likely a few years away from a possible MLB debut, but if the Mariners nurture his talent properly, he could be a legitimate game-changer.
