- Full name Jean Michael Cijntje
- Born 05/31/2003 in Gravenhage, Netherlands
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: S / Throws: S
- School Mississippi State
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Drafted in the 18th round (552nd overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022.
View Draft Report
Cijntje is one of the more unique talents in the 2022 class, as a legitimate switch-pitcher who routinely works as a lefthander and righthander. A native of Curacao, Cijntje is a natural lefthander but after training himself to throw with his right hand as well, his non-natural arm has louder stuff. He gets his fastball up to 96 and sits in the low 90s from the right side, and pitches in the upper 80s and touches the low 90s from the left side. Being able to throw 90 mph with both hands puts Cijntje in a massively small circle of players, and he also has a slider around 80 mph from the right side that gives him an average secondary. He throws a slower, mid-70s curveball from the left side. Unlike many ambidextrous pitchers, Cijntje has real touch and feel with both arms and could be a legitimate two-way pitcher at Mississippi State if he makes it to campus. It’s not clear whether MLB teams would want him to continue pitching both ways in pro ball or instead focus on refining his ability as a righthander.
Top Rankings
Draft Prospects
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School: Mississippi State Committed: Brewers ’22 (18)
Age At Draft: 21.1
There have been a handful of players who are able to pitch with both arms over the years, but perhaps none with more legitimacy than Cijntje, who sat around 94 mph and touched 99 as a righthander and sat at 91 and touched 97 as a lefthander with Mississippi State in 2023. There’s a reasonable case to be made that he’s one of the most talented ambidextrous pitchers ever, as even big league switch-pitcher Pat Venditte only threw in the 80s from both sides. The Curacao native pitched to an 8.10 ERA in 13 starts and 50 innings in 2023, with a 26.5% strikeout rate and 14.3% walk rate. He’s better as a righthander where he establishes his fastball for strikes more consistently and throws a low-80s slider and low-80s changeup. From the left side, his slider is a few ticks slower and he will also mix in a mid-70s curveball with bigger shape and more depth. While Cijntje will need to put together better performance in 2024, his unicorn status as a pitching prospect should make him intriguing regardless. -
School: Champagnat Catholic HS, Hialeah, Fla. Committed/Drafted: Mississippi State
Age At Draft: 19.1
Cijntje is one of the more unique talents in the 2022 class, as a legitimate switch-pitcher who routinely works as a lefthander and righthander. A native of Curacao, Cijntje is a natural lefthander but after training himself to throw with his right hand as well, his non-natural arm has louder stuff. He gets his fastball up to 96 and sits in the low 90s from the right side, and pitches in the upper 80s and touches the low 90s from the left side. Being able to throw 90 mph with both hands puts Cijntje in a massively small circle of players, and he also has a slider around 80 mph from the right side that gives him an average secondary. He throws a slower, mid-70s curveball from the left side. Unlike many ambidextrous pitchers, Cijntje has real touch and feel with both arms and could be a legitimate two-way pitcher at Mississippi State if he makes it to campus. It’s not clear whether MLB teams would want him to continue pitching both ways in pro ball or instead focus on refining his ability as a righthander.
