# Scouting Report: Jurrangelo Cijntje

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/scouting-report-jurrangelo-cijntje/
- Published: 2026-02-05T12:00:00-06:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

### **Scouting Report: Jurrangelo Cijntje**

The [Cardinals](https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/) acquired [Jurrangelo Cijntje](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cijntj000jur&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-05_br)
in the [Brendan Donovan](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/donovbr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-05_br)
trade; he’s a look at what the team got.

**Scouting Report: **Jurrangelo Cijntje
**Position: **Right Handed Starting Pitcher(
with the ability to pitch from the left side)**Age: **22**Bats/Throws: **Switch/
Switch (ambidextrous pitcher)**Height: **5’11”**Weight: **200**School: **Mississippi
St**Drafted: **1st round (15th overall), Seattle Mariners, 2024**Acquired: **02/
02/2026 in 3‑team trade with the Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays**Highest Level:** AA

[⌊Jurrangelo Cijntje⌉⌊Jurrangelo Cijntje⌉[

Cijntje is a rare pitching prospect: a legitimate ambidextrous pitcher capable of
reaching professional‑grade velocity and feel from both arms. Others have attempted
it, with only [Pat Venditte](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vendipa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-05_br)
making it to the majors as a true switch pitcher in recent history; he only pitched
in 61 games as a reliver with subpar results (and was responsible for the Venditte
Rule, stating the pitcher must declare which arm they are throwing with at the beginning
of an at bat).

While his novelty draws attention, it’s his more advanced right‑handed arsenal that
represents his true long‑term upside. The Cardinals have indicated plans to have
him focus primarily on pitching right‑handed in games, while maintaining left‑handed
work in practice/bullpens, which is similar to what the Mariners had him do.

#### **Arsenal**

 * RH Pitches
    - Fastball: sits 95-97 MPH, but can touch 98-99 in the upper zone; it also shows
      above-average movement. Hitters have struggled to catch up to it so far, but
      it projects the same for MLB hitters. **Grade 60**
    - Slider: Mid-80s which appears more like a cutter; has great depth and power,
      but needs a little more command before it’s a plus pitch. **Grade 55**
    - Change: 87-89 with a fading action; it’s more of a power change rather than
      a soft pitch to throw off hitters. It also doesn’t miss many bats, but typically
      generates groundballs when hit. **Grade 50**
 * LH Pitches
    - Fastball: 90-92 with less movement than the right side; he also throws it 
      from a lower arm angle, which tunnels his slider. **Grade 50**
    - Slider: Low-80s with sweeping action. **Grade 55**
 * Control: **Grade 45** from both sides

Right now, his control is holding him back. He walked 4.24 batters per 9 innings
in 2025; it was also his first exposure to professional hitters and he saw improvement
from his freshman year to his sophomore year while at Mississippi St. I’m expecting
a step forward in 2026.

Here’s a video of him pitching at Double A last season.

> Jurrangelo Cijntje K% and BB% by handedness:
> RHP:K%: 28.0BB%: 8.1LHP:K% 14.5BB%:
> 30.6Before the trade, he was slated to pitch solely from the right side in 2026We
> don't know what the Cardinals' plan for him is, but I wouldn't expect anything
> different [pic.twitter.com/OwnVvclboT](https://t.co/OwnVvclboT)
> — Adam Akbani (@AdamAkbani) [February 3, 2026](https://x.com/AdamAkbani/status/2018501118985417110?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

#### **Comps**

 * **[Marcus Stroman](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stromma01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-05_br)**:
   Both are smaller starters with power stuff and ground-ball tendencies. They each
   had upper 90s fastballs with great sliders and serviceable changeups. At this
   point of Cijntje’s career, Stroman had similar ground ball and swinging strike
   rates. The biggest difference is Stroman’s sinker, which had better movement 
   and command than what Cijntje has shown. Cijntje also has a higher ceiling than
   Stroman did after 1 professional season.
 * **[Frankie Montas](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/montafr02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-05_br)**:
   Both pitchers flash high velocity fastballs and moving breaking pitches. Montas
   also showed the early control struggles that have shown up with Cijntje. Montas
   is a good cautionary tale, since he’s struggled to stay healthy and still has
   bouts of control issues. He’s also a good best case as a #3 starter.
 * **[Luis Patino](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/patinlu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-05_br)**:
   He’s a better comp for Montas, but fits here for the same reason Montas fits.
 * **[Jose Berrios](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/berrijo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-05_br)**:
   Berrios saw his profession career start much like Cijntje’s: good raw stuff with
   an athletic delivery that was prone to a few too many homers. Berrios has obviously
   overcame that, so there is hop for Cijntje.
 * **Pat Venditte**: Venditte will always be mentioned when talking about Cijntje
   since he’s the most recent switch pitcher. That’s pretty much it with the comparisons
   though, as Venditte has good control and low velocity (mid-80s from both sides).

#### **Potential**

 * Ceiling: #2-3 starter; it’s a big if though because he needs his control to be
   much better to get to hit this ceiling.
 * Floor: Mop-up guy; even with his small frame, he’s been able to increase his 
   work load each year since his freshman year of college.
 * ETA: Late 2026 at the earliest, and that’s if he takes the step forward with 
   control. More likely 2027.

As the primary piece in the Brendan Donovan trade, his upside is exactly what the
team needed to get. He’s at the back end of some top 100 prospect lists and has 
the most potential of any of the players the Cardinals have gotten in trades this
off-season.

I’m planning on doing more of these through spring training; in the mean time, check
out [some I’ve already written](https://www.nyrdcast.com/tag/scouting-report/).

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