Fans hoping to catch Jurrangelo Cijntje’s ambidextrous act in St. Louis may need to adjust their expectations. The Cardinals have apparently shut down the switch-pitching experiment, and given the way the numbers played out, it makes sense.
Cijntje, acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the Brendan Donovan deal, arrived with plenty of buzz because of his rare ability to throw with either arm. But the split data told a blunt story.
According to Baseball America, his walk rate in Double-A Springfield in 2026 was 10.2% when he pitched right-handed and 29% when he worked left-handed, though that came against only 21 batters from that side. After moving up to Triple-A following the All-Star break, he walked 17% of hitters while pitching left-handed in his first four starts.
In those outings, he gave up 16 earned runs in 18 innings, and after that stretch the Cardinals put an end to his use of the left arm.
That decision wasn’t exactly a surprise. Before the trade, the Mariners had already seemed to cool on the switch-pitching idea, as Cijntje had also struggled in their farm system when throwing left-handed.
Now the focus is squarely on what he can do as a right-handed pitcher, and the recent signs are encouraging. Cijntje posted a 3.00 ERA over his last five starts of 2026, and his strikeout and walk numbers against right-handed hitters improved once he stopped trying to be two pitchers at once. That’s why he looks like someone who could help the Cardinals rotation if the opportunity opens up in 2027.
He’s also likely to land on the 40-man roster by December, since leaving him off would make him eligible for the Rule 5 draft.
There are a few paths that could put him in St. Louis next season beyond a straightforward injury opening.
If Matthew Liberatore keeps struggling in the rotation, the Cardinals could move him to the bullpen and create a spot for Cijntje. Andre Pallante has also been mentioned as a possible trade chip, and if he’s moved in the offseason or at the trade deadline, Cijntje could step into that role.
Tai Peete has drawn plenty of attention from the Seattle side of the deal after his breakout minor league season in 2026, but Cijntje shouldn’t get lost in the shuffle. With the switch-pitching act shelved, the Cardinals may have made the practical choice - and possibly found a pitcher who can matter sooner rather than later.
If Cijntje never goes back to throwing with both arms, Pat Venditte will remain the last pitcher to do it, having appeared in 61 games over five seasons with six different teams. The dream of another ambidextrous ace is still fun to imagine, but for now Cijntje is simply a pitcher again.
And for St. Louis, that may be the smarter version of the story.
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