FORT WORTH, Texas — The Mariners made history after drafting a switch pitcher in the first round of the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft.
Seattle selected Mississippi State switch pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje with the 15th overall pick in the draft. Cijntje is the first switch-pitcher to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft.
The 21-year-old went 8-2 over 16 starts with a 3.67 earned run average (ERA) in his sophomore season. Cijntje also struck out 113 batters with only 30 walks.
Cijntje was a natural left-hander as a child but when he turned six years old he started throwing right-handed to be like his dad, Mechangelo, who played pro ball in the Netherlands.
The ambidextrous pitcher's fastball can hit the low 90s as a left-hander and hit 98 miles per hour as a righty.
The Mariners tell Cijntje that it's up to him if he wants to continue pitching from both sides.
“I would like (to) stay from both sides,” Cijntje said.
Cijntje was born in the Netherlands, but raised in Curaçao.
With the Mariners second pick of the day, Seattle took a high school pitcher Ryan Sloan from Illinois. The 18-year-old is currently committed to Wake Forest.
Sloan was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois. His fastball can reach 99 miles per hour. Sloan is listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds.
During his senior season, Sloan went 2-3 with a 0.39 ERA, 90 strikeouts, and five walks.
Mariners senior director of amateur scouting, Scott Hunter, called Sloan a power pitcher with top-of-the-rotation potential.
The draft will continue Monday with rounds 3-10. The third day of the draft is Tuesday with rounds 11-20.
