Cardinals Reveal Intriguing Development Plan for New Top Pitching Prospect

The St. Louis Cardinals are taking a unique approach with their new switch-pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The St. Louis Cardinals had a busy offseason, trading away several veteran players to acquire young pitching prospects, including switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje from the Seattle Mariners. The Cardinals plan to have Cijntje focus on pitching right-handed in games and batting practice, while continuing to work on his left-handed pitching in side sessions and bullpens. This approach allows the team to develop Cijntje's stronger right-handed skills while not completely shutting down his ability to pitch from both sides.

Why it matters

The Cardinals have been short on pitching depth in recent years, so acquiring a unique talent like Cijntje, who can pitch from both sides of the mound, is an intriguing development. The team is taking a measured approach to see how Cijntje's ambidextrous skills can best be utilized as he works to potentially crack the Cardinals' starting rotation in the coming years.

The details

The Cardinals acquired Cijntje as part of a trade that sent veteran player Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners. Cijntje, a switch-pitcher, is considered one of the Cardinals' top pitching prospects. The team plans to have him focus on right-handed pitching in games and batting practice, while continuing to work on his left-handed skills in side sessions and bullpens. This approach allows the Cardinals to develop Cijntje's stronger right-handed abilities while not completely shutting down his ambidextrous talents.

  • Cijntje was acquired by the Cardinals in a trade on February 14, 2026.

The players

Jurrangelo Cijntje

A switch-pitcher who was acquired by the St. Louis Cardinals in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, and is considered one of the team's top pitching prospects.

Brendan Donovan

A veteran player who was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Seattle Mariners in the deal that brought Cijntje to the Cardinals.

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What they’re saying

“[The Cardinals] are going to have Jurrangelo Cijntje focus on RHP in games and BP, while keeping him working as LHP in side sessions and bullpens”

— Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

What’s next

The Cardinals will continue to develop Cijntje's pitching skills, with a focus on his right-handed abilities in games and batting practice, while also maintaining his left-handed pitching in side sessions and bullpens. The team will evaluate his progress and determine if he can eventually utilize his ambidextrous talents in games.

The takeaway

The Cardinals' unique approach with Cijntje highlights their commitment to developing his full potential as a switch-pitcher. By allowing him to focus on his stronger right-handed skills while still nurturing his left-handed abilities, the team is positioning Cijntje to potentially become a valuable asset in their starting rotation in the coming years.