The Mariners made a bold move in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Sunday by selecting switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje from Mississippi State University with the 15th overall pick.
Yes, you read that correctly.
With their second-round pick, they chose high-school right-hander Ryan Sloan at No. 55 overall.
Ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 25 prospect, Cijntje is an exciting addition to an organization known for its strong pitching since Jerry Dipoto became president of baseball operations in 2015.
“We’re going to let Jurrangelo decide how he wants to start,” said Mariners director of amateur scouting Scott Hunter. “There’s a huge advantage if he pitches with both arms. It won’t be a strict lefty-righty alternation; it’s more about matchups and seeing what works in the Minor Leagues. It’s definitely an option we’re considering.”
Cijntje is a rare and effective switch-pitcher, capable of hitting 95 mph with his left arm and 99 mph with his right. As a sophomore at Mississippi State, he recorded 113 strikeouts in 90 2/3 innings with a 3.67 ERA. He typically pitched left-handed to lefty batters and right-handed to righty batters but started throwing right-handed against lefties more often in 2024.
“He put down the left-handed glove for a bit, and his last few starts were electric,” Hunter said. “We evaluated his progress and felt he was a great fit for our pitching program.”
Cijntje’s unique skill is governed by MLB rules, which require pitchers to indicate which hand they will use before a plate appearance and stick with it unless injured. Born in Curaçao, Cijntje trained as a righty to emulate his father, Mechangelo, a professional ballplayer in the Netherlands. Over time, his right arm matched and then surpassed his left.
“I wanted to throw right-handed to be like my dad,” Cijntje said.
Cijntje’s right-handed fastball reaches higher speeds and is complemented by a mid-80s slider and a harder changeup. His left-handed fastball, though slower, is paired with a sweeping breaking ball in the low 80s. Standing 5-foot-11 with a strong build, Cijntje has developed his lower body to support his pitching.
MLB Pipeline sees Cijntje as a potential starter in the mold of Marcus Stroman from the right side and a reliever from the left. Cijntje himself models his game after Stroman.
“His right-handed pitches have more power,” Hunter said. “It’s funny to say ‘more power’ when he throws 97-98 mph right-handed and up to 93 mph left-handed. His right-handed pitches are just a bit crisper because he uses that arm more.”
Drafted by the Brewers in 2022 as a shortstop, Cijntje chose to pitch at Mississippi State instead. After struggling as a freshman with an 8.10 ERA in 50 innings, he significantly improved as a sophomore, completing seven innings in three of his final five starts of 2024, including an NCAA regional game against Virginia.
Second-round pick (No. 55 overall): RHP Ryan Sloan
The Mariners considered taking Sloan in the first round but were pleased to find him still available in the second. Sloan, a Wake Forest commit, may require an over-slot offer to sign.
“To see him slip was unexpected, but we stayed in touch with his agent,” Hunter said. “We’ll need to be creative with our bonus pool, but he’s worth it.”
Sloan, 18, had a stellar high school career at York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois, with a 12-7 record and a 1.57 ERA over 154 2/3 innings, along with 43 walks and 266 strikeouts. This spring, he allowed just two earned runs in 46 2/3 innings (0.39 ERA) with 90 strikeouts and five walks, earning him the 2024 Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year.
