2024 MLB Draft Profile: Jurrangelo Cijntje

[Hector Rodriguez]

The Miami Marlins are expected to take a college bat with their first-round pick, but there's always a slight chance Miami takes a pitcher. Jurrangelo Cijntje might be the best arm available with the 16th overall pick, and he's certainly the most unique one. 

Overview

Position: SHP

Height: 5'11″

Weight: 200 pounds

School: Mississippi State

Jurrangelo Cijntje is a 5’11”, 200-pound pitcher who plays for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Cijntje is one of the most unique baseball prospects since he’s an ambidextrous pitcher.

Coming out of high school, Jurrangelo Cijntje was one of the top high school prospects in his class. On Perfect Game, Cijntje was the 34th-ranked prospect and the #1 both-handed pitcher in the country. He was also the ninth-ranked prospect in Florida and was a Perfect Game All-American. Cijntje was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, but honored his commitment to Mississippi State.

Cijntje struggled as a freshman in Mississippi State’s weekend rotation. He posted a 3-5 record with an 8.10 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 11.3 K/9, and 63 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched.

As a sophomore, Cijntje had a breakout season and turned himself into a first-round draft prospect. Cijntje posted a 8-2 record in sixteen starts to go along with a 3.67 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 11.2 K/9/. 3.0 BB/9, and 113 strikeouts in 90 ⅔ innings pitched. Cijntje was also named a Second Team All-American.

On the mound, Cijntje possesses a three-pitch mix which includes a fastball, slider, and changeup. As a right-handed pitcher, Cijntje’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and tops out at 98 mph. He also has a plus slider and has a good feel for his changeup.

As a left-hander, Cijntje’s velocity and control both drop a little bit. His fastball sits in the low 90s and peaks at 94 mph. He also works from a low slot and his slider is more of a sweeper from the left side.

 

Strengths

• Ambidextrous
• Power fastball
• Mixes his pitches well
• Pitched well against SEC competition

 

Weaknesses

• Left-handed fastball doesn’t miss many bats
• Average-to-below average control
• Scouts might ask him to be a right-handed pitcher only

 

Pro Comparison: Marcus Stroman (when throwing righty)

Projection: Top 25 pick (38th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of July 1)

 

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Bottom Line

The Marlins desperately need to add more hitters to their farm system. However, they have done a good job of drafting and developing pitching prospects. They could lean into that organizational strength in the first round and still load up on hitting talent in later rounds.

Jurrangelo Cijntje is a hometown prospect who played for Champagnat Catholic School and pitched for Curacao in the Little League World Series. If Cijntje improves as a left-handed pitcher, he could turn into a middle-of-the-rotation type arm.

 

Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series.

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