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ST. LOUIS – In a move that showcases a new kind of versatility, the Cardinals have traded superutility player Brendan Donovan in exchange for a unique asset. The focal point of the trade is 22-year-old Jurrangelo Cijntje, a rare switch-pitcher capable of hurling 90 mph with either arm.
The Cardinals secured Cijntje (pronounced SAIN-juh), along with outfield prospects Tai Peete and Colton Ledbetter, and two competitive balance draft picks, in a three-team deal with the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays. This transaction saw Donovan heading to Seattle.
Hailing from the Netherlands and a Mississippi State alum, Cijntje has been on the radar for much of his baseball career. Selected as the 15th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, he entered this season ranked as MLB Pipeline’s 91st prospect, previously holding the seventh spot in Seattle’s system before the trade.
Last year, while primarily pitching right-handed during minor-league games, Cijntje displayed his ambidextrous skills, achieving a 5-7 record, a 3.99 ERA, and 120 strikeouts over 108 1/3 innings, ultimately reaching Double-A by season’s end.
Given the Cardinals’ need for promising pitchers and Cijntje’s potential, he could be on track for a major league debut by late 2026 or shortly thereafter. However, a pressing question lingers: Will he continue to pitch with both arms?
Cardinals President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom spoke with media members Tuesday about Cijntje’s development:
“Broadly speaking, we see his strengths and his upside similarly to Seattle. He’s such a unique player. I don’t want to get too specific just because we owe it to ourselves and to him to get to know him a little bit first. But when you look at stuff, the command, the upside, it’s not a shock that [the Mariners] were prioritizing the right side.”
“Jurrangelo is passionate about keeping up the left side, I think for any number of reasons, including the fact that he’s gotten to this point with a routine that is specific to him that you don’t want to disrupt too much without good reason.”
Days before the trade, Seattle leadership said the plan was for him to focus primarily on throwing right-handed while continuing to experiment left-handed, mainly in bullpen sessions. Based on Bloom’s comments, it appears the Cardinals will follow a similar path, keeping options open for Cijntje pitching left-handed in the future.
Cijntje is the first ambidextrous pitching prospect in recent memory who presents a serious chance to throw from both sides at the Major League level. The most recent pitcher to do so was reliever Pat Venditte, a bullpen piece on six MLB teams from 2015 to 2020. No other documented instances exist since at least 1995.
Cijntje can throw a fastball and slider from both sides and is working to craft a changeup from the right side. Bloom is hopeful that, with the Cardinals’ plan and Cijntje’s routine, he will naturally develop both arms as he progresses through the minor league system.
“We’ll get to know him, understand him, see what’s on his mind, make sure he’s using his own voice in his development because he is unique,” said Bloom. “He knows himself best. But broadly speaking, we do think the course that they were going to take is a good one.”
Bloom adds that Monday’s trade as a whole addresses long-term needs for trading an All-Star and clubhouse leader in Donovan, especially with the two competitive balance picks.
“The deal would not have happened without [the picks],” said Bloom. “We wanted to set the bar pretty high if we were going to contemplate something like [trading Donovan]. As much as we are thinking long term, there still should be a pretty high bar when you have someone who’s as valuable as Brendan. The value of those shots in the top 100 picks of the draft are real. Now, it’s on us now to maximize them.”
The Donovan trade caps a busy offseason for the Cardinals, who also traded veterans Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray in an effort to reduce payroll, acquire assets and build from a youth-driven big-league roster.
Cardinals pitchers and catchers will report to spring training on Feb. 11 with position players and staff arriving soon after. The Cardinals will open the 2026 regular season on March 26 at home against the Tampa Bay Rays.