Seattle Mariners Share Video Displaying Top Draft Pick's Unique Skill
The Seattle Mariners are just a few months away from one of the most interesting seasons in the franchise's recent history.
The Mariners have a core of one of the best outfielders and catchers in the MLB and one of the best starting rotations in the game to go with it. And they'll be looking to add to that core to avoid missing the postseason for the 23rd time in 24 years.
On top of that, Seattle also has one of the best farm systems in all of baseball.
By the end of the season, the Mariners had eight prospects ranked in Baseball America's top 100, more than any other club in the game.
And not one of those prospects included Seattle's top pick in the 2024 draft: Mississippi State switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje.
Cijntje is one of the most intriguing prospects in the history of the game. Pat Venditte was the last legitimate ambidextrous pitcher (or "amphibious" if you know the reference). He wasn't nearly as highly-touted a prospect as Cijntje and never projected as better than a reliever.
Cijntje is projected as just that: a future starter. But his development and recovery will have another wrinkle to it because of his ability to throw with both arms.
It's likely because of that reason he's currently participating in the Mariners' High Performance Camp.
Unlike the Arizona Fall League, which offers prospects roughly 30 more games to compete in, prospects don't actually "play" in High Performance Camp.
The offseason program is used to help minor leaguers build major league habits. The camp focuses on aspects like diet, mechanics, strength building and sleep cycles among other factors.
There's a very good chance that Cijntje, who had a 3.67 ERA in 16 starts with Mississippi State in 2024, starts the season with the team's High-A affiliate Everett AquaSox.
But before then, the Mariners need to make sure Cijntje is mechanically sound and develops good habits in High Performance Camp.
But even in a limited capacity, Cijntje is still showing off his unique ability, which the Mariners players development account shared on "X."
.@_LooCijntje makes being a switch-pitcher look easy đź‘€ pic.twitter.com/CFLVdQQwRr
— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) October 25, 2024
Cijntje will be one of the most intriguing minor leaguers to watch. Not only for Seattle, but in all of MLB. And this fall is the first step in what could be an extremely unique and interesting career for Cijntje.
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