Cijntje Working Both Sides of the Rubber

The Cardinal Chronicle
Cijntje Working Both Sides of the Rubber
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Development doesn’t always show up in the box score.

But sometimes, it shows up just enough to tell you something is changing.

That was the case Tuesday night for Jurrangelo Cijntje, who turned in a steady outing for Springfield and earned The Cardinal Chronicle’s Minor League Pitcher of the Day honors in a 5-4 comeback win over Midland.

Cijntje worked 4.2 innings, allowing one run, keeping the Cardinals within striking distance long enough for the offense to deliver a four-run rally in the seventh inning.

But the story goes beyond the line.

During spring training, the Cardinals indicated the switch-pitcher would work exclusively right-handed in games. On Tuesday, that plan showed signs of evolution. Cijntje pitched left-handed to three consecutive left-handed hitters, hitting the first before settling in to induce two ground-ball outs.

It was a small sample—but a meaningful one.

The organization is beginning to identify situations where Cijntje can utilize both sides of his game, not as a novelty, but as a tool. That kind of progression matters. It’s one thing to have the ability—it’s another to begin applying it in real game situations.

Beyond that, Cijntje did what a starter is asked to do—keep his club in the game. He limited damage, worked through traffic, and handed the ball off with Springfield still within reach.

They did the rest.

For now, the stat line is solid.

The development? That’s what makes this one worth watching.