Baseball player Jurrangelo Cijntje is one of America’s hottest rookies

STARKVILLE – Jurrangelo Cijntje is one of the most exciting newcomers to college baseball in the United States. At least the Washington Post thinks so. The Mississippi State freshman is a rare two-handed pitcher, the most notable since Pat Venditte played 61 major league games between 2015 and 2020.

Sijntje already throws harder than Venditt. His fastball clocked 97 mph right-handed and 92 mph left-handed as he pitched four shutout innings in a 14-3 win over Louisiana-Monroe last Wednesday. Sigintje hit a six off his right arm and a run off his left arm in his first start.

“He’s very cool with everything he does,” says coach Chris Lemonis. “He moved from his home country (Curaçao, Ed.) to Starkville, Mississippi. Nothing can stop him. He’s competitive, he’s going to win, but you’re going to see a kid get a lot better.”

In a recent story for MSU’s athletics website, Cijntje said he is naturally left-handed. He was born in the Netherlands but grew up in Curaçao and started throwing right-handed because he wanted to emulate his father, catcher McGangelo. He played professionally in the Netherlands. Ultimately, his right hand is stronger than his left.

Sigintje lived with her cousin while attending high school in Florida. The Milwaukee Brewers selected him as a shortstop last year in the 18th round of the MLB Amateur Draft, but Cijntje didn’t want to give up pitching and went to college instead.

Cijntje uses a specially made glove that is worn on both hands. The rules require him to announce which hand he will use to pitch before the batter appears, and to use the same hand throughout the at-bat.

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Catcher Ross Hiffel says of Cijntje’s battery mate. “It’s kind of weird trying to juggle being left-handed and right-handed. You have to prepare ahead of time and catch a lot of his bulls.