With the MLB Draft beginning in a couple of weeks we’re going to continue coverage to preview the draft, looking at some names connected to the Atlanta Braves. Today’s look will be at Jurrangelo Cijntje, a college arm best known as a switch-pitcher.
Background
Jurrangelo Cijntje draws a lot of attention for being a switch-pitcher for Mississippi State, but make no mistake – any team drafting him is doing so as a right-handed pitcher. Cijntje IS a viable pro from the left side, but he is more of a reliever from there as the stuff isn’t as sharp. As a right-hander he profiles as a starter. Cijntje is only a sophomore-eligible player who was highly rated out of high school, and even drafted by the Brewers in the 18th round back in 2022 before heading to MSU. He is a 5’11’, 200-pounder with a fastball up to 98 MPH, a swing and miss slider, and a change that should be a solid third offering. He was a member of the 2016 Curacao Little League World Series team who played his high school ball in Florida, and the son of a pitcher who pitched over in the Netherlands. While undersized, he is very athletic, helping to offset some of the concerns about height for a sub-6-foot pitcher. Command is a work in progress for him, though he made major strides there this spring.
Profile
As a highly regarded freshman Cijntje earned a starting role for MSU and held it for 13 starts, but he struggled mightily. The biggest reason for that was his command was rough last year, and he pitched to a 8.10 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 63 strikeouts to 34 walks in 50 innings. He posted a 7.9 H/9, 2.2 HR/9, 6.1 BB/9, and 11.3 K/9.
This year the command was a lot better, and with 16 starts he nearly doubled his innings from 5 to 90.2. Cijntje posted a 3.67 ERA and 1.10 WHIP and struck out 113 batters against 30 walks. Outside of a nearly identical K/9 (11.2), his ratios were all improved by a significant amount. The 7.9 H/9 dropped to 6.9, the 2.2 HR/9 dropped to 1.1, and the 6.1 BB/9 dropped all the way to 3.0. A gain like this in just his second year on campus, mixed with his pedigree and athleticism gives hope for further gains. With further gains he could end up being a middle of the rotation type of arm, and likely has a reliever floor.
Cijntje is a guy the Braves could like due to the athleticism and feel for pitching. Also if they were to believe in future gains with the command that could push him further up the team’s board. He is likely to be the top arm, pro or college, available at 24, which adds on to why the Braves have been considering him.
Projections
The sense around the draft board is that Cijntje could very well be there at 24, though that is feeling like a 50/50 thing at the moment. Based on rankings and information, he is a player likely to come off the board in the 22-26 range of the draft, but due to the lack of first round arms this year he could come off the board as high as #15 – especially if he’s open to taking a deal to go in the teens.
If I had to go based off of gut feeling today, I would predict that Cijntje is not on the board when the Braves pick. That same gut feeling says that if he is on the board the Braves would very likely take him, barring someone else falling in the draft. While I don’t believe he would be an over-slot candidate, I also don’t believe that there would be much chance to get him under-slot in this draft either.
