South Florida player is one of most intriguing MLB Draft prospects ever
He’s one of the most intriguing prospects in baseball history – and his amateur career could officially end this Sunday.
Jurrangelo Cijntje, who played for a now-defunct Miami high school (Champagnat Catholic) before becoming a star at Mississippi State, is a switch- pitcher who speaks four languages and can also switch-hit if needed.
On Sunday, he is expected to become a first-round pick as the MLB Draft begins its three-day run.
Cijntje, 21, started 16 games for the Bulldogs this year, going 8-2 with a 3.67 ERA, 113 strikeouts and 30 walks in 90 2/3 innings.
Batters hit just .211 against him, and scouts were impressed. According to some of the more prominent mock drafts available online, Cijntje is projected to get picked 19th (USA Today); 24th (Bleacher Report); and 26th (MLB.com).
What makes Cijntje unique is that he can throw 96-98 mph right-handed and 92-93 lefty. But because of that velocity disparity, some pro teams might want him to focus solely on becoming a right-handed starting pitcher.
But why give up on what makes him unique? Why not take advantage of his ambidextrous ability and perhaps have him compete in the first inning with his left arm, thus saving his pitch count the rest of the way for his right-handed tosses?
You’ll get no argument from Cijntje on either point.
“I want to do both,” Cijntje said about pitching right- and left-handed. “But whatever I can do to win games …”
Cijntje, who speaks English, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamentu, is the top prospect to come out of Miami-Dade/Broward County high schools this year.
Of the players who competed in high school this past season, here are some Dade/Broward names to watch:
▪ Switch-hitting shortstop Devin Fitz-Gerald (Stoneman Douglas) could go in the top four rounds. But Fitz-Gerald, who is a straight-A student, could also skip the pros for now to play for ACC baseball for North Carolina State.
Scouting reports rave about Fitz-Gerald as a patient and polished hitter who has equal bat speed on both sides of the plate. He is mature beyond his age (18), which is not surprising since his father, Todd Fitz-Gerald is the Douglas coach.
“He has a high baseball IQ and good bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate,” Todd Fitz-Gerald said. “He’s a really good hitter -- a bit better from the left side.”
Fitz-Gerald said his son may not stay at shortstop in the long term.
“He has a good arm, and he puts himself in good positions defensively to make plays. I think he will end up becoming an offensive-minded second baseman. Some teams have asked about him becoming a catcher even though he’s never caught a single pitch … not even in Little League.”
▪ Out of Doral Academy, 5-11, 170-pound center fielder Michael Torres could also go in the top four rounds.
A Hurricanes recruit, Torres is a speedy lefty hitter who puts the ball in play. He has a great arm for a center fielder, and he impressed at a recent MLB Combine in Arizona, flashing 104-mph exit velocity off his bat.
Torres also has secondary value as a lefty pitcher who has thrown his fastball up to 92 mph.
▪ There are two Westminster Christian prospects who could get drafted: shortstop Manny Marin and right-handed pitcher Lazaro Collera.
Marin, a 6-1, 175-pounder, signed to play college baseball with 2024 national champion Tennessee.
Collera, a towering 6-6 and 230 pounds, is a Miami Hurricanes recruit. Collera’s fastball has been timed at 98 mph, and he also has an improved slider and changeup.
▪ Over at Miami Christian, the Victors likely have the most talented draft roster in program history with players such as outfielder Fabio Peralta; shortstops Ronny Cruz and Yendy Gonzalez; and outfielder/first baseman Alejandro Abreut.
Cruz, a 6-1, 180-pounder who has committed to Miami Dade College, was invited to the MLB Combine and is expected to get drafted in the top-six rounds.
Peralta, a 6-2, 185-pound Hurricanes recruit, should go in the top-10 rounds. A lefty hitter, Peralta has great speed, a good arm and a nice swing.
Gonzalez, a bit undersized at 5-9 and 180 pounds, is expected to get drafted in the top 15 rounds.
Abreut, a 6-2, 215-pounder, runs extremely well for his size, clocking at 6.5 in the 60. A Florida Atlantic recruit, Abreut has over-the-fence power, and he can defend.