Ambidextrous switch-pitcher dominates in first college start
STARKVILLE, Miss. (BVM) – Jurrangelo Cijntje – an ambidextrous, switch-pitching true freshman – made his first collegiate start for Mississippi State on Wednesday night and gave the baseball world a look at something it’s never seen before.
In four scoreless innings of work, Cijntje struck out seven Louisiana-Monroe hitters. Six of those punchouts came as a righthander, but one came as a southpaw after firing a 92-mph fastball.
.@HailStateBB's switch-pitching freshman @_LooCijntje 🤯
97 MPH from the right 🔥
92 MPH from the left 🔥 pic.twitter.com/g7XhndlsGJ— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 23, 2023
Pat Venditte is recognized as the only ambidextrous MLB pitcher after he was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2008 and made his professional debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2015. But even Venditte — with a fastball that reached the low-to-mid 80s from his left arm and topped out at 87 mph from his right – didn’t possess the velocity that Cijntje already has.
The natural lefty can reach 92 mph from that side but his better stuff comes from the right arm and gets up to 96 mph. This unique talent led to the Milwaukee Brewers using their 18th-round pick during the 2022 MLB Draft on the 5-foot-11 unicorn.
Despite the honor, Cijntje opted to pursue his scholarship and collegiate baseball career at Mississippi State.
Im honored of getting picked but im still a bulldog!! 🐶
— Loo Cijntje (@_LooCijntje) July 19, 2022
The journey for Cijntje began in The Netherlands where he was born before moving to Curacao where he first gained notoriety for his switch-pitching by playing for the country at the 2016 Little League World Series. The natural lefthander began throwing with his right hand at the age of 6 years old to mimic his father, Mechangelo, who played professionally in the Netherlands.
Cijntje moved to Miami in 2020 and continually saw his stock rise at Champagnat Catholic High School before arriving in Starkville.
The ambidextrous switch-pitcher is already making noise after just one start at the college ranks. It’s only a matter of time before Cijntje and his special gift are on the world’s biggest stage.
Here's a look at all seven of switch pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje's strikeouts. Six from the right side, one from the left. pic.twitter.com/Su7SPxoscA
— Kam Dyer (@TheKamDyer) February 22, 2023
