Photo philadelphia inquirer
In the MLB Pipeline mock draft, the Philadelphia Phillies choose a different kind of two-way athlete.
Pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje (50) of the Mississippi State Bulldogs pitches against the Vanderbilt Commodores on May 23, 2024, in Hoover, AL, USA, as part of the SEC Baseball Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. The Vasha Hunt of USA TODAY Sports is available here.
In a fresh mock draft, the Philadelphia Phillies are predicted to select a very intriguing guy. Mississippi State pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje is an ambidextrous pitcher that the Phillies are expected to select, according to Jonathan Mayo's most recent forecasts on MLB Pipeline. Since Pat Venditte, no pitcher in Major League Baseball has possessed his skill set.
Due of the unusual nature of his work, Cijntje garnered media attention before starting his freshman year in 2023. The switch pitcher had a difficult rookie season even though he was one of the most well-known collegiate athletes in the nation before he ever threw a pitch.
He pitched to an 8.10 ERA in 14 games, and while he had a strong strikeout rate (11.3 K/9), he had control issues. That season, he pitched 50 innings and walked 34 batters, for a 6.1 BB/9.
In 2024, he made significant progress, bringing his ERA down to 3.67 in 90.2 innings while continuing to strike out over 11 batters per nine and halving his walk rate. Despite only being 21 years old, his performance this year significantly increased his draft stock and propelled him into first round contention.
The first thing that always comes up when discussing Cijntje is his ability to pitch both left- and right-handed. But he is more effective from one side of the mound than the other, much like a switch hitter. Cijntje is a superior prospect from the right side, despite the fact that he is naturally left-handed.
He throws a strong slider and a 60-grade fastball that reaches 98 mph from the right side. His slider loses roughly ten mph in velocity while coming from the left, while his fastball remains in the low nineties.
Despite having little velocity, the majority of them believe that as a southpaw, he would wind up as a reliever. His scouting report indicated that he would be a right-handed pitcher that was "Marcus Stroman-equivalent." It is obvious that he will be a right-handed pitcher in the major leagues, especially if he can start games and reach 98 mph.
Although there is still room for improvement, if he gets drafted and turns into a full-time righty, he will be able to concentrate more on controlling the ball from one side of the mound.
Due to the rarity of switch pitchers in the draft, Cijntje may be the most intriguing talent this year. In pro ball, a team might allow him to attempt pitching from both sides, but even in a year, there's very little chance he'll still be doing it. He is an intriguing talent from the right side who might improve much more if he pursues this full-time.
Post a Comment