Two of Mississippi State baseball’s best players are turning pro, following a short postseason run that ended for the Bulldogs during this past weekend’s regional round.
Outfielder Dakota Jordan and starting pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje sent out similar posts on social media this week with sources close to the program confirming that both players plan to sign with the MLB teams that select them during next month’s draft.
Thank you StarkVegas. ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/BocG2lTeh2
— Dakota Jordan ⁴² (@Kota_1k) June 4, 2024
Thank you for everything Starkvegas!❤️🙏🏽🥲 pic.twitter.com/jvxr7zwlCA
— Loo Cijntje (@_LooCijntje) June 4, 2024
Jordan, ranked as the No. 29 overall prospect, used his sophomore season in Starkville to solidify himself as one of the best hitters in this year’s draft. The Jackson Academy alumnus had a .354 batting average with 20 home runs and 72 RBI in 63 games in 2023. Jordan was also awarded the Ferriss Trophy, given annually to the top college player in Mississippi.
Cijntje, coming in two spots behind Jordan as the No. 31 overall prospect, cleaned up a clunky freshman campaign to go 8-2 with a 3.67 earned run average as a sophomore in 2023. MLB clubs are high on the potential of the ambidextrous pitcher, who can reach 99 miles per hour with his right arm and mid-90s with his left.
While both Jordan and Cijntje are hoping to hear their names called in the first round of the MLB Draft on July 14, another Mississippian is destined to be one of the top picks in 2024. Konnor Griffin out of Jackson Prep is currently projected to go as high as No. 5 overall to the Chicago White Sox.
