The New York Yankees have shown interest in one of the most intriguing players in MLB draft history, and a recent insider report suggests that this interest is genuine.
In Jonathan Mayo’s latest MLB mock draft, he predicted that New York would select switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje from the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
“This could be a terrific scenario for the Yankees, who sound like they do prefer an arm and like Cijntje,” Mayo said. “They could also consider Doughty on the prep side, stick at Mississippi State with Jordan, or go to LSU and White if they opt for a college hitter.”
Cijntje posted a solid 3.67 ERA over 90.2 innings this past season with Mississippi State, a significant improvement from his 8.10 ERA in his freshman season. With just three more games started as a sophomore, he nearly doubled his innings pitched.
Originally selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round of the MLB draft out of high school in 2022, Cijntje chose to attend college to improve his draft stock, which worked out well for him.
His breakout season demonstrated that he could be more than just a novelty player if given the chance to develop further at the next level.
While batters have some success when they make contact, Cijntje strikes out many hitters and has significantly reduced his walks.
Cijntje has two different pitching approaches from either side, making it challenging for batters to find a rhythm against him.
The 21-year-old projects as a mid-90s fastball starter from the right side of the mound while appearing as a flamethrowing reliever from the left. Due to his 5-foot-11 frame, there are concerns about his durability, which could lead him to a bullpen role.
Pat Venditte is the only modern baseball player to regularly pitch from both sides, and his career didn’t flourish much beyond his first season with the Oakland Athletics. Venditte was also drafted by the Yankees, in the 20th round of the 2008 MLB draft, but took too long to progress through the minors, leading New York to move on from him after his age-29 season.
If Cijntje becomes the Yankees’ selection, the hope will be that he advances through the minors more quickly. He remains a project, but one that appears to be worth the investment.
