Some of the fascinating prospects within the 2024 MLB Draft has discovered his new dwelling.
On Sunday evening, the Seattle Mariners chosen Mississippi State change pitcher – throws each lefty and righty — Jurrangleo Cijinte with the fifteenth total decide.
The 21-year-old slotted as MLB.com’s No. 25 total prospect.
Through the 2024 season for the Bulldogs, Cijinte earned Good Sport Second Workforce All-American honors, posting a 3.67 ERA in 16 begins whereas placing out 113 and strolling 30 in 90 ⅔ innings pitched.
This 12 months, Cijinte ranked within the high 10 of SEC pitchers in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, opposing batting common wins.
Whereas it will be simple to pigeonhole Cijinte into one position or lane, it appears Seattle is preserving every little thing on the desk.
“There’s a large benefit if he does do each,” stated Scott Hunter, Mariners director of beginner scouting. “I don’t assume it is going to be a real left at the moment, proper tomorrow. It’s extra about perhaps selecting matchups and seeing the way it works within the Minor Leagues. However it’s undoubtedly an choice that’s on the desk to maintain it going.”
Cijinte was evaluated by scouts and analysts as each a righty and lefty, grading with a greater fastball (60 vs. 50 grade) and changeup (50 vs. 45) when utilizing his proper arm, per MLB.com.
In accordance with MLB.com’s scouting report, Cijinte is a “pure left-hander” however discovered to make use of his proper arm in an effort to mimic his dad, Mechangelo, who performed professional baseball within the Netherlands.
If Cijinte is ready to attain the most important leagues, he would observe within the switch-pitching footsteps of marvel Pat Venditte, who coincidentally additionally pitched for the Mariners in 2016 however final appeared in an MLB recreation in 2020.
“I might be right down to do every little thing,” Cijinte instructed USA In the present day, “particularly to assist them win.”
It seems that Cijinte is in good fingers relating to pitcher improvement, too.
Seattle has transformed its first-rounders from 2018 and 2019 — Logan Gilbert and George Kirby — into two of the brighter younger arms within the recreation, plus has already seen robust contributions from 2021 fourth-round decide Bryce Miller and sixth-rounder Bryan Woo.
The AL West-leading Mariners at the moment boast the third-best staff ERA in baseball and have ranked within the high 10 in that class every of the final three seasons.
