Switch-pitcher Cijntje deals from both sides in Spring Breakout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening. The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,”
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening.
The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,” knowing the likelihood of what eventually took place during MLB Spring Breakout at Goodyear Ballpark.
Pitching in his first true game-like environment since being selected in the first round of last summer’s MLB Draft, Cijntje knew that he’d be called upon Friday after lefty Brandyn Garcia. But he wasn’t quite sure he’d match up against Bazzana, who was taken 14 picks ahead of him at No. 1 overall and was batting in the No. 2 hole.
Sometimes in baseball, the stars align.
Cijntje, who was seen warming in the bullpen with both arms before Garcia worked out of a fourth-inning jam, opted to go left-on-left against Bazzana to start the fifth, inducing a hard-chopping groundout to shortstop Brock Rodden on the first pitch. Cijntje then flipped his glove over and pitched right-handed the rest of the way -- even against seven more left-handed hitters.
“There was a lot of adrenaline," said Cijntje, who is the Mariners’ No. 9 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. “I couldn’t even control my body, but I fought through it.”
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
Fate brought Bazzana back to the batter’s box for Cijntje’s final at-bat of the night, which was even more fascinating.
Cijntje took off his glove between batters as if he was going to go lefty to Bazzana, as he did the first time, but he surprised most when he instead remained righty. Cijntje then blew a 97 mph elevated four-seam fastball by Bazzana for a swinging strike three in a punctuating conclusion to his night.
“That's something special,” said Bazzana, Cleveland’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 10 overall prospect in the game. “You don't really see that ever. I think he's got a bright future, and it was cool to battle.”
You don't see this every day. #SpringBreakout pic.twitter.com/BC6QmG43JR
— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) March 15, 2025
So, Cijntje’s first pitch of the outing was also his final from the left side, given that Bazzana swung and made contact right away, while his 39 other pitches over two innings were thrown right-handed. In total, he surrendered one unearned run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts.
“I was already in a rhythm, and I was like, ‘I'm going to keep throwing from my right side,” Cijntje said.
There was also awe from his teammates.
“Dude, stop it,” said Mariners No. 12 prospect Tai Peete, who went 3-for-3 with a 422-foot homer and a stolen base while playing center field. “I thought it was funny when he switched on the mound and everyone started cheering.”
The decision-making calculus for Cijntje to go right vs. left on Friday hinted at how the Mariners will leverage his ambidextrous skill set as he embarks on his player-development path.
Seattle intends to develop Cijntje as a right-handed starter, which is his better pitching arm and possesses a denser arsenal that features a higher-velocity four-seamer, slider, cutter and changeup. But the Mariners also don’t want to sacrifice his lefty skill, because there is plus potential from that side, where he’s up to 93 mph with a sinker/slider combo.
“It's going to be development-based more than matchup-based,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. “Obviously, you want to put him in positions to succeed, and I don't think we want to put him in positions where he's pitching to a lot of right-handed hitters left-handed. But I do think we're all in alignment that he needs to develop right-handed to work against the platoon matchup. It can't be every left-handed hitter that comes up.”
There will be expected fluidity to Cijntje’s routine.
The early plan is for him to start righty, and he may pitch left-on-left within that start but probably not all of them. Then in his in-between side session, which would come three days later, he’d do so right-handed, then pitch an inning in relief while left-handed in whatever game falls on that same day.
“There is not a blueprint here at all,” Hollander said. “We want to be honest. We don't want to talk confidently about how we definitely know the right answer here, because we definitely don't know the right answer. And I'm sure we'll have to make adjustments along the way.”
The Mariners have an idea of which Minor League affiliate that Cijntje will begin the season with, but they haven’t yet told him. His goal is to reach Double-A Arkansas by season’s end.
There will certainly be learning curves along the way, but his fascinating path to the Majors got started in a Breakout way on Friday night.
Daniel Kramer covers the Mariners for MLB.com.
Mighty Mussels Announce 2025 Promotional Schedule
FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 26, 2025) – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels have announced their 2025 promotional schedule – highlighted by Grand Slam Saturdays, fireworks, post-game concerts, theme nights, and specialty jerseys. The 2025 season opens on the road on April 4 in Palm Beach, with the teams’ home opener
Mighty Mussels’ 2025 Schedule and Game Times Finalized
FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 6, 2025) – The Mighty Mussels’ 2025 schedule has been revised and finalized, the league office has announced. In the wake of the stadium accommodations made by the Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Tarpons, Major League Baseball has adjusted the Florida State League matchups while maintaining
Seth Feldman to Lead Mighty Mussels’ Coaching Staff in 2025
FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 21, 2025) – The Minnesota Twins have announced their minor league coaching assignments Tuesday, including the full staff for the 2025 Mighty Mussels. Seth Feldman has been named the club’s manager for 2025, just the second manager of the Mussels’ era. Brian Meyer has been assigned
Maddux Houghton Receives Harmon Killebrew Award
FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 17, 2024) - Mighty Mussels' outfielder Maddux Houghton has been named the club's 2024 recipient of the Harmon Killebrew Award. An annual award that was created in 2011 to honor the passing of Twins' legend Harmon Killebrew, the Killebrew Award goes to one minor league player
WATCH: Brandon Winokur's 3-Homer Game
WATCH: Kaelen Culpepper Home Run
WATCH: Billy Amick Home Run
Mussels Mash Three Home Runs To Win Regular Season Finale 9-4
LAKELAND, Fla. (September 8, 2024) – The Mighty Mussels matched a season high with three home runs as Fort Myers defeated Lakeland 9-4 in the regular season finale at Joker Marchant Stadium. The Mussels (66-59, 35-25) hit three homers in a game for the third time this season and for
Mussels Rebound with 5-4 Win Over Flying Tigers
LAKELAND, Fla. (September 7, 2024) – The Mighty Mussels snapped their season-high seven game losing streak with a 5-4 victory at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium Saturday. Fort Myers starter Adrian Bohorquez tossed three scoreless innings, striking out four while allowing just one hit and one walk. He averaged
Mussels Eliminated From Playoff Contention After Doubleheader Defeat
LAKELAND, Fla. (September 6, 2024) – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels were eliminated from playoff contention after being swept in Friday’s doubleheader by the Lakeland Flying Tigers, who clinched the second half championship in the FSL West. The Mussels (64-59, 33-25) had a six-game lead in the standings over Lakeland
Mussels Shut Out by Lakeland 4-0, Fall Out of First Place
LAKELAND, Fla. (September 4, 2024) – The Lakeland Flying Tigers tossed a four-hit shutout Wednesday, taking over first place in the FSL West with a 4-0 win over the Mighty Mussels at Joker Marchant Stadium. Zack Lee (3 IP), Duque Hebbert (4 IP) and Garrett Apker (2 IP) combined to
Flying Tigers Claim Rain-Shortened Game 5-2
LAKELAND, Fla. (September 3, 2024) – The Lakeland Flying Tigers claimed the first game of a critical six-game series Tuesday, winning 5-2 over the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels in six innings at Joker Marchant Stadium. The Flying Tigers (77-48, 35-25) are now 0.5 games behind the Mighty Mussels (64-56, 33-22)
Mussels Swept by Threshers in Saturday Doubleheader
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 31, 2024) – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels fell in both ends of their doubleheader against the Clearwater Threshers by final scores of 5-2 and 7-3 on Saturday at Hammond Stadium. The Mussels’ (64-54, 33-19) magic number to clinch a playoff spot remains at seven games
Friday's Mussels-Threshers Game Suspended Due to Field Conditions
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 30, 2024) - Friday's game between the Mighty Mussels and Clearwater Threshers has been suspended due to unplayable field conditions at Hammond Stadium. The game will be completed at 3:35 p.m. on Saturday. The second game of Friday's doubleheader will be made up as part of
Threshers Top Mussels 8-1 To Even Series
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 28, 2024) – The Clearwater Threshers defeated the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 8-1 Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium to even the series at one game apiece. The Mussels (64-53, 33-19) saw their second half lead in the FSL West drop to 3.0 games with 10 games
Sunday's Mussels-Threshers Game Cancelled
FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 1, 2024) - Sunday's game between the Mighty Mussels and Clearwater Threshers has been cancelled due to unplayable field conditions at Hammond Stadium, as deemed by umpires Chad Lagana and Kaden Tichenor. The game will not be made up. All tickets to Sunday's game can be
Thursday's Mussels-Threshers Game Postponed
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 29, 2024) - Thursday's game between the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels and Clearwater Threshers has been postponed due to unplayable field conditions at Hammond Stadium. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Both games will be seven innings.
Winokur Delivers Walk Off Blast To Beat Threshers 9-7 In Extras
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 27, 2024) – After a back and forth night of baseball to preview a possible playoff matchup, Brandon Winokur blasted the first pitch of the bottom of the 10th inning onto the left field berm to give the Mighty Mussels a thrilling 9-7 victory over the
Fort Myers Falls Just Short To Lakeland 4-3
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 18, 2024) – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels had the tying run thrown out at the plate in the ninth inning on Sunday as the Lakeland Flying Tigers won the series finale 4-3 at Hammond Stadium. With Fort Myers (60-49, 29-14) trailing 4–2 in the bottom
Mussels’ Win Streak Snapped By Lakeland 4-2
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 17, 2024) – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels saw their six game win streak come to a close with a 4-2 loss against the Lakeland Flying Tigers Saturday night at Hammond Stadium. The Mussels (60-48, 29-14) second half lead in the FSL West now sits at
Winokur’s Three Home Run Night Powers Fort Myers Past Lakeland 12-2
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 16, 2024) - Fort Myers cruised past Lakeland 12-2 thanks to a trio of home runs from Brandon Winokur and a stellar performance from the pitching staff on Friday night at Hammond Stadium. Fort Myers (60-47, 29-13) has now won six consecutive games to extend their
Mussels Top Flying Tigers 4-1 To Take 3-0 Series Lead
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 15, 2024) – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels extended their second half lead in the FSL West to 5.0 games over the Lakeland Flying Tigers with a 4-1 win on Thursday night at Hammond Stadium. Fort Myers (59-47, 28-13) has now outscored Lakeland (66-42, 24-19) 16-8
Soto, Eighth Inning Rally Lead Mussels Past Tigers 6-3
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 14, 2024) – Charlee Soto spun five shutout innings as the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels extended their second half lead in the FSL West to 4.0 games with a 6-3 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium. Soto threw five shutout
Lares, Bender Lead Mussels Past Flying Tigers 6-2
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 13, 2024) – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels extended their second half lead in the FSL West to 3.0 games with a 6-2 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers Tuesday at Hammond Stadium. Seven of the first eight 2024 Minnesota Twins draft picks made their Hammond
Reyes, Thomason Come up Clutch in 5-4 Extra Innings Win
JUPITER, Fla. (August 11, 2024) – Jay Thomason delivered the go-ahead RBI in the top of the tenth and Wilker Reyes stranded the tying run at third to lift Fort Myers past Jupiter 5-4 Sunday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Mighty Mussels’ win caps a 5-1 week and keeps