Jurrangelo Cijntje, born on May 31, 2003, in The Hague, Netherlands, is a Dutch-born Curaçaoan professional baseball pitcher in the Seattle Mariners organization. Notably, he is a switch-pitcher, capable of throwing effectively with both his right and left arms.
Early Life and Amateur Career
Cijntje spent his early years in Willemstad, Curaçao, and was part of the Willemstad Little League team that competed in the 2016 Little League World Series. He later moved to Miami, Florida, at age 16, to live with cousins who had played baseball at Florida National University. There, he attended Champagnat Catholic School in Hialeah, where he excelled as both a switch-pitcher and switch-hitter.
In his senior year, he achieved a 7–6 record with a 2.32 ERA, striking out 166 batters over 81 innings. He committed to Mississippi State University before his senior season and enrolled there after not signing with the Milwaukee Brewers, who selected him in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Draft.
College Career at Mississippi State University
During his freshman year at Mississippi State in 2023, Cijntje made 14 appearances, including 13 starts, recording a 3–5 record with an 8.10 ERA and 63 strikeouts over 50 innings. In his sophomore year (2024), he earned second-team All-America honors and was named to the South All-Region first team by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
He finished the season with an 8–2 record and a 3.67 ERA over 16 starts, amassing 113 strikeouts in 85 innings. Notably, he primarily pitched right-handed during this season, utilizing his left arm less frequently.
Professional Career with the Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners selected Cijntje with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft. He signed a contract with the Mariners on July 16, 2024. Cijntje did not pitch in the 2024 season but participated in the Mariners’ High Performance Camp in Arizona that October.
Spring Training Highlights
In March 2025, Cijntje showcased his unique switch-pitching abilities during the Mariners’ Spring Breakout games. He impressed observers by effectively pitching with both arms, drawing comparisons to MLB pitchers like Marcus Stroman. Mariners director of amateur scouting, Scott Hunter, remarked on the rarity of such a talent, stating, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this in my lifetime in scouting, let alone as a player.”
Personal Life
Cijntje’s father, Mechangelo, was a professional baseball catcher in the Netherlands. Growing up, Jurrangelo was naturally left-handed but began throwing right-handed at age six to emulate his father. He is fluent in English, Spanish, Dutch, and Papiamento.
For a visual showcase of Cijntje’s pitching prowess, you might find this video interesting: