Mariners draft switch pitcher Jurrangelo Cijinte, who’s ‘down to do anything’

During the 2024 season for the Bulldogs, Cijinte earned Perfect Game Second Team All-American honors, posting a 3.67 ERA in 16 starts while striking out 113 and walking 30 in 90 ⅔ innings pitched.

This year, Cijinte ranked in the top 10 of SEC pitchers in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, opposing batting average wins.

While it would be easy to pigeonhole Cijinte into one role or lane, it seems Seattle is keeping everything on the table.

“There is a huge advantage if he does do both,” said Scott Hunter, Mariners director of amateur scouting. “I don’t think it will be a true left today, right tomorrow. It’s more about maybe picking matchups and seeing how it works in the Minor Leagues. But it is definitely an option that’s on the table to keep it going.”

Cijinte was evaluated by scouts and analysts as both a righty and lefty, grading with a better fastball (60 vs. 50 grade) and changeup (50 vs. 45) when using his right arm, per MLB.com.

According to MLB.com’s scouting report, Cijinte is a “natural left-hander” but learned to use his right arm in order to mimic his dad, Mechangelo, who played pro baseball in the Netherlands.

If Cijinte is able to reach the major leagues, he would follow in the switch-pitching footsteps of marvel Pat Venditte, who coincidentally also pitched for the Mariners in 2016 but last appeared in an MLB game in 2020.

“I will be down to do everything,” Cijinte told USA Today, “especially to help them win.” 

It appears that Cijinte is in good hands regarding pitcher development, too.

Seattle has converted its first-rounders from 2018 and 2019 — Logan Gilbert and George Kirby — into two of the brighter young arms in the game, plus has already seen strong contributions from 2021 fourth-round pick Bryce Miller and sixth-rounder Bryan Woo.

The AL West-leading Mariners currently boast the third-best team ERA in baseball and have ranked in the top 10 in that category each of the last three seasons.