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Cardinals' elimination of Jurrangelo Cijntje's signature quirk is a necessary evil

Jurrangelo Cijntje's loss is the Cardinals' gain.
ByJ.T. Buchheit
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Feb 16, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje (87) throws a pitch during spring training workouts at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Feb 16, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje (87) throws a pitch during spring training workouts at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Fans of baseball unicorns had eagerly awaited the debut of Jurrangelo Cijntje, the pitcher whom the St. Louis Cardinals grabbed from the Seattle Mariners in the Brendan Donovan deal. Cijntje was best known for his ambidexterity on the mound, the ability to throw with either hand, but those fans may have to wait a little longer to see the next one-of-a-kind player, as it appears that the Cardinals have put the kibosh on Cijntje's switch-pitching exploits, and for good reason.

Baseball America (subscription required) crunched the numbers, and Cijntje's self-imposed splits are staggering. His walk rate in Double-A Springfield in 2026 while pitching right-handed was 10.2%, whereas it was 29% while pitching left-handed, albeit against only 21 batters from that side. After a promotion to Triple-A following the All-Star break, Cijntje walked 17% of batters when pitching left-handed in his first four starts. After those tribulations, where he allowed 16 earned runs in 18 innings, the Cardinals pulled the plug on Cijntje's left arm.

Prior to Cijntje's trade to St. Louis, the Mariners had appeared to squash his dream of pitching with both arms, as he had also scuffled in the Mariners farm system while pitching left-handed. Now that the Cardinals have followed suit, Cijntje could be on the fast track to helping the team in 2027.

Jurrangelo Cijntje could become a rotation staple for the Cardinals next season

With a 3.00 ERA in his last five starts of 2026 and substantial improvement in strikeout and walk numbers against right-handed hitters after eschewing switch-pitching, Cijntje appears to have unlocked more stuff with one less arm and looks prepared to aid the Cardinals rotation if the need arises. Cijntje will almost certainly be added to the 40-man roster by December, as he would be eligible for the Rule 5 draft if he were absent from it.

There are several scenarios aside from an injury in which Cijntje could find himself in St. Louis next season. If Matthew Liberatore continues to struggle in the rotation, the Cardinals could send him packing to the bullpen, opening a rotation spot for Cijntje. There have also been rumblings of Andre Pallante being a potential trade chip for St. Louis. If he's dealt in the offseason or at the trade deadline, Cijntje could take over his vacated role.

Much of Cardinals fans' attention from Seattle's trade with St. Louis has shifted to Tai Peete, a breakout star in the minor leagues in 2026, but Cijntje can't be overlooked, especially now that he's focused solely on pitching right-handed. As the Cardinals continue their rebuild, expect Cijntje to serve as a linchpin in the next competitive St. Louis rotation.

Barring an unexpected return to switch-pitching for Cijntje, the last pitcher to throw with both arms will remain Pat Venditte, who pitched in 61 games across five seasons for six different teams. Although the thought of another player taking on the mantle of the next ambidextrous dynamo on the mound is tantalizing, the reality is that Cijntje is just another pitcher now, and that's for the best.

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