Mariners Narrow Jurrangelo Cijntje’s Focus to Right-Handed Pitching for Spring Training
SEATTLE - Jurrangelo Cijntje is still one of the most fascinating arms in baseball - literally. But as the Mariners gear up for Spring Training, the ambidextrous pitcher will be taking a more streamlined approach.
When camp opens on February 11, Cijntje will be pitching exclusively right-handed in games, according to Mariners general manager Justin Hollander. The decision marks a shift in the organization’s development plan for one of its most unique prospects, though it doesn’t mean Cijntje is shelving his left-handed arsenal entirely.
“We think that's his highest ceiling, is as a right-handed starter,” Hollander said during the team’s FanFest. “As part of his routine and high-performance buildup, having him continue to work left-handed is valuable.
We may bring it back at some point. But for the start of camp and for the foreseeable future, he's going to pitch right-handed in games.”
That’s a key distinction. Cijntje will still throw left-handed in bullpen sessions - part of maintaining arm balance and body mechanics - but fans hoping to see him switch mid-inning in Cactus League play will have to wait.
This isn’t a total curveball from the Mariners. Cijntje, ranked No. 91 overall by MLB Pipeline and No. 7 in Seattle’s system, has always been viewed as a starting pitcher first, and the right side has consistently shown more polish and production. Still, his ability to pitch with both arms is what made him a standout in the first place - and what helped make him the No. 15 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, with a signing bonus just shy of $5 million.
At FanFest, Cijntje also revealed that he turned down an invite to pitch for Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, choosing instead to focus on his first big league camp.
“Going into this year, I was down to go, and then I got the invite,” he said. “And I was like, ‘I’ll think about it with my family and my agent and all that.’
And I think it was best for me to stick and go to a big league camp. Because that’s something that probably will help me to make it especially.
You want to play around these guys, too.”
It’s a mature decision from a 22-year-old who’s still refining his game - and his identity on the mound.
Last season, the Mariners experimented with a dual-role schedule in the Minors: Cijntje would start games right-handed on Saturdays, then come out of the bullpen as a lefty on Wednesdays. The results were mixed.
The left-handed outings didn’t quite click, and after three turns through that routine, the club pivoted. He continued to throw left-handed in certain matchups, but the focus returned to his right-handed work.
“I struggled a little bit doing that, just because it’s not like something I did before,” Cijntje admitted. “But it’s just like some things - you just learn from it and just keep looking forward.”
The numbers back that up. In 9 2/3 innings as a lefty, Cijntje posted nine strikeouts, 19 walks, and allowed a 1.118 OPS - a tough stat line by any measure.
As a righty, he threw 98 1/3 innings, struck out 111, walked 32, and held hitters to a .618 OPS. That’s a stark contrast and a clear indication of where his strengths currently lie.
Still, Cijntje hasn’t given up on the switch-pitching dream.
“I’m looking forward just to keep going with the both-sides thing and try to do it as long as I can,” he said.
But for now, the Mariners are prioritizing his development as a right-handed starter - and for good reason. He finished 2025 at Double-A Arkansas, the same affiliate that’s served as the final proving ground for recent Seattle arms like George Kirby, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo. With two college seasons and over 100 innings of pro experience under his belt, Cijntje is inching closer to the big leagues.
“I’ve always thought that once you’re at Double-A, you’re... on the depth chart,” Hollander said. “So it’s certainly realistic that at some point this year, Jurrangelo is up here pitching for us.”
That’s not a guarantee, but it is a window into how the Mariners view his trajectory. And if his right-handed stuff continues to play the way it has, that window could open sooner than later.
For now, the ambidextrous phenom is taking a focused step forward - one arm at a time.