Step up in competition only made Mariners' switch-pitcher even hotter

With the MLB season winding down, it’s the perfect time to spotlight one of the most unique names in the Seattle Mariners’ farm system: Jurrangelo Cijntje.

Seen by some as a chance to witness more of a novelty act, the ambidextrous pitcher has doubled down on his legitimacy as a prospect with real upside. And his recent performance shows he’s doing far more than just surviving as the competition gets tougher.

When we last checked in on Cijntje, the Mariners had just promoted him to Double-A Arkansas, a level that often separates future big leaguers from organizational filler. The challenge was clear: better hitters, tighter scouting reports, and fewer mistakes forgiven. On top of that, Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock has a reputation as a pitcher’s haven — a place that can both mask flaws and expose pitchers who lack command.

Cijntje has responded by simply getting even better.

Mariners’ two-way arm finds success against tougher competition in Double-A

At High-A Everett, Cijntje carried a 4.58 ERA across 19 starts. The walks were manageable, the strikeouts were high, but the consistency wasn’t fully there. Then came the promotion, and with it, a sharper, more confident version of the switch-pitcher. In six starts with Arkansas, he’s posted a 3.03 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 14 walks over 29 2/3 innings. The kind of line that grabs front offices’ attention, not just because of the numbers, but because of how he’s doing it.

Cijntje’s right-handed stuff is major league quality right now. He topped out at 99 mph this season, pairing that heat with a breaking ball that’s given right-handed hitters nightmares. The results speak for themselves: righties managed just a .482 OPS against him this year. At worst, that hints at a future as a late-inning weapon against right-handed bats.

The big question — and what makes Cijntje such a fascinating prospect — is how far the Mariners want to take his development as a left-handed pitcher. The results so far remain unstable, and it’s fair to wonder if this offseason could include a program designed to sharpen his left-handed arsenal. Even if the left side never comes around, though, the right side alone is enough to carry him to the big leagues.

For all the questions and what-ifs, the bottom line is simple: Jurrangelo Cijntje’s first full season of professional baseball has been an encouraging success. He’s proven he can handle promotions, silence right-handed hitters, and flash premium velocity. The Mariners don’t just have a sideshow prospect here, they have something real.

And if Seattle can unlock even a little more consistency from his left arm? Then they’ll have one of the most entertaining pitchers in all of baseball.