Mariners switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje has game-changing potential for MLB

The game of baseball is constantly evolving. After Shohei Ohtani became the first true two-way player in the modern history of the sport, it looks like Jurrangelo Cijntje might create a niche of his own.

Interestingly enough, he isn't the first switch pitcher. Pat Venditte currently holds that honor but, unlike Venditte, Cijntje has modern velocity to go with his unique skillset.

Cijntje's first big Mariners showcase was a big success

There are still some questions as to whether he'll be effective enough with both arms to use them on a regular basis at the major league level, but we'll probably have answers soon as he enters his first professional season. In the meantime, he was one of the more alluring aspects of the Mariners' Spring Breakout game against the Cleveland Guardians' top prospects.

He ended up pitching two innings with no earned runs and two strikeouts. Most notably, he faced the No. 1 overall pick from last year's draft twice and got him out both times.
Cijntje first got Travis Bazzana to ground out as a lefty, and then struck him out as a righty.

The Mariners' current plan is to focus on developing Cijntje's right side, which has greater velocity and a more competitive arsenal. However, when asked about what lies in store for his future, general manager Justin Hollander remarked that there isn't a precedent on how to handle his growth as a player.

“There is not a blueprint here at all,” Hollander said, per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. “We want to be honest. We don't want to talk confidently about how we definitely know the right answer here, because we definitely don't know the right answer. And I'm sure we'll have to make adjustments along the way."

How viable even is switch-pitching at the MLB level?

The more detailed plan is to have Cijntje primarily pitch from the right side and occasionally switch to southpaw against left-handed hitters to utilize the platoon advantage. Against a league-average OPS of .711 in 2024, lefty hitters posted a .668 OPS against lefty pitchers.

Hollander stated that it wouldn't be all the time, and there's also the possibility of Cijntje pitching in relief on a few days rest rather than taking a full four days of rest in between. Ultimately, there's plenty of flexibility to go around, and Seattle wants to make sure that they aren't wasting what Cijntje has already developed from the left side. Namely, a sidearm delivery with an effective sinker in the low-90s and a plus sweeper.

For Ohtani, it took him three years before he was able to be fully effective at the plate and on the mound. Throughout those years, many were saying that being a two-way player at the highest level of baseball was simply too much work. Three MVPs and a $700 million contract later, it seems that perseverance and belief in his own talent was all that he needed to play the game the way he wanted.

Cijntje's career may look similar. It's difficult enough to go through the arm care and conditioning routines necessary to be a viable pitcher from both sides. When you also consider mechanics, pitch design, and all of the other bells and whistles of pitching, it seems impossible to think that he could do this long-term.

For now, he's taking things step-by-step. He hasn't yet been told what level of the minor leagues he'll be starting the season with, but his personal goal is to crack Double-A by the end of the year. It would still be a ways away from the big leagues but he'll need time to refine his skills anyway.

It's a good thing the Mariners are at least open to using all of the tools in Cijntje's belt. And if he keeps up the great work throughout his minor league grind, who's to say we won't see him toting his six-finger glove on the mound for the Mariners one day?