The St. Louis Cardinals have officially hit the reset button - and they’re doing it with a clear eye on the future.
After shipping off All-Stars Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras earlier this offseason, the latest move saw Gold Glove utility man Brendan Donovan head to Seattle. In return, the Cardinals landed a crop of young talent, headlined by one of the most intriguing prospects in all of baseball: Jurrangelo Cijntje.
Now, if you haven’t heard of Cijntje yet, buckle up - because this kid is something else. He’s a switch-pitcher.
Yes, you read that right. He throws with both arms, and not just as a gimmick.
He’s got legitimate stuff from both sides of the mound, a rarity that’s captivated scouts and fans alike since his amateur days. But with all that said, the Cardinals are already signaling that his future may be more conventional - and that might be the best thing for his development.
Meet Jurrangelo Cijntje: The Switch-Pitching Prospect with Serious Upside
The 20-year-old was the Mariners’ No. 7-ranked prospect, and he’s now the centerpiece of the Donovan deal. Cijntje’s ambidextrous ability makes him a unicorn in today’s game, but the Cardinals are eyeing a more streamlined path.
Seattle had already announced that Cijntje would throw exclusively right-handed in spring training, and when St. Louis introduced him, President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom echoed a similar sentiment.
While the Cardinals aren’t closing the door on his left-handed pitching, Bloom made it clear they’re leaning toward developing him strictly as a right-hander.
And there’s a good reason for that.
Cijntje’s right-handed arsenal is already electric. His fastball consistently sits in the upper 90s, and he backs it up with a sharp, swing-and-miss slider.
He also mixes in a fading changeup that plays well against left-handed hitters. But what really sets him apart - and what the Cardinals desperately need - is his ability to throw strikes.
That combination of command and power stuff is something St. Louis has been chasing for years.
Too often, they’ve had pitchers with great raw tools but no feel for the zone, or strike-throwers whose pitches lack bite. Cijntje offers the rare blend of both.
Why Right-Handed Only Might Be the Right Call
Sure, the idea of a switch-pitcher is fun - it’s the kind of thing that gets fans talking and highlight reels spinning. But developmentally, simplifying things could be the key to unlocking Cijntje’s full potential. Focusing on one side allows him to refine his mechanics, build consistency, and rise through the system faster.
We’ve seen how clinging to versatility for versatility’s sake can backfire. Just look at Tommy Edman’s time in St.
Louis. A switch-hitter by trade, Edman struggled mightily from the left side, posting a .523 OPS against right-handed pitching in 2024.
The Cardinals stuck with the switch-hitting approach, hoping the splits would even out. They never did.
Since joining the Dodgers, Edman has taken more right-handed at-bats - even against righties - and the results have spoken for themselves.
The Cardinals’ willingness to adapt with Cijntje is a sign of growth. It’s an acknowledgment that development isn’t one-size-fits-all, and sometimes the best way to maximize a player’s talent is to let go of what looks good on paper and focus on what actually works.
A Glimpse of the Future
Cijntje isn’t going to step into Busch Stadium tomorrow and anchor the rotation. He’s still a prospect, and there’s work to be done.
But he’s got the tools to be a frontline starter - and that’s not something the Cardinals have had in abundance lately. If his command holds up and his stuff continues to tick up, this could be the kind of arm that reshapes a pitching staff.
The Brendan Donovan trade wasn’t just about moving a fan favorite. It was about recalibrating the franchise’s direction.
And in Jurrangelo Cijntje, the Cardinals may have found a new face for that future - one that throws gas, pounds the zone, and just so happens to do it with both arms. For now, though, they’re betting that one of those arms can carry him - and the team - a long way.