

MLB is buzzing about Seattle Mariners prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje, but not just because of his electric debut in the Spring Breakout game. The young switch-pitcher—capable of hitting the mid-90s from the left side and the upper 90s from the right—made headlines for another reason: A bizarre mix-up that left fans scratching their heads.
During Friday night’s broadcast, an MLB-affiliated account attempted a lighthearted reference to Yogi Berra, the Hall of Famer known for his unintentionally hilarious quotes. But instead of a clever nod to the late Yankees legend, the league’s social media post reportedly called Cijntje “amphibious” rather than ambidextrous.
Cue the confusion.
Loading today's weather.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Baseball fans, especially those who remember Pat Venditte, the last true switch pitcher in MLB, instantly recognized the mistake. Back in 2014, a reporter famously described Venditte as “amphibious,” a viral blunder. The term, of course, refers to animals that can live on both land and water—not pitchers who can throw with both hands.
Amphibious pitcher K's a pair in #SpringBreakout game pic.twitter.com/8uSo7b4fLM
— MLB (@MLB) March 15, 2025
Instead of landing as a playful callback, MLB’s attempt at humor seemed to miss the mark, with many fans either puzzled or wondering if someone genuinely thought Cijntje was part frog.
Regardless of how he was described, Cijntje’s performance stole the show.
The 2024 first-round pick out of Mississippi State faced the Cleveland Guardians’ top prospects, tossing two innings of one-run ball with two strikeouts. While some nerves and a defensive miscue led to an unearned run, his ability to seamlessly switch arms mid-game had social media buzzing for all the right reasons.
What’s your perspective on:
Did MLB's 'amphibious' blunder make you laugh, or was it just a swing and a miss?
Have an interesting take?
MLB Pipeline ranks Cijntje as the Mariners’ No. 9 prospect, and he’s quickly gaining national attention. Fans who caught his debut saw why: His velocity is elite, his mechanics are smooth, and his talent is undeniable.
MLB tried to be funny… and, well…
As for the “amphibious” slip-up? Well, the internet never forgets. But if Cijntje continues developing into a top-tier pitcher, the only thing fans will remember is how hard he was to hit—regardless of which arm he used.
Amphibious, huh. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Y1a15jOIPt
— Court (@CourzLee) March 15, 2025
One user reacted to the incorrect use of “amphibious” with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. The thinking emoji (🤔) suggests that the person is either confused, amused, or questioning whether the term was used intentionally or by mistake. It’s likely a subtle way of pointing out the error while letting others draw their own conclusions.
There's something here, amphibious Mariner… Both are aquatic in nature.
— Mike 🇺🇸 (@mikerube19) March 15, 2025
Some made a playful connection between the mistaken use of “amphibious” and the fact that the Seattle Mariners are named after sailors, which ties into the water and the sea. Since amphibious refers to creatures that can live in both water and on land, the person is joking that, in a way, calling a Mariner amphibious isn’t entirely wrong—both have an aquatic theme – a lighthearted way of finding humor in the mistake.
I see Yogi Berra is running the MLB account today
— Kang Of Seattle 🙄 (@KangofSeattle) March 15, 2025
Sarcasm is built in MLB fans’ blood. Some joked that whoever is running MLB’s account made a classic Yogi Berra-style blunder. Since Berra was famous for his amusing and often nonsensical quotes, they quipped that he must be behind the accidental use of “amphibious” instead of “ambidextrous.”
More like intern autocorrected from ambidextrous to amphibious, that's where my money is at.
— Shinyandchrome (@DatSwayze) March 15, 2025
Was this mix-up due to “autocorrect” rather than an intentional joke or misunderstanding? One fan mocked, suggesting that an intern (a common scapegoat for social media mistakes) probably typed “ambidextrous,” but autocorrect changed it to “amphibious.” They’re humorously betting on this theory as the most likely explanation.
Taking amphibians is clearly a violation of the MLB drug policy.
— Memo_B_Random (@Memo_B_Random) March 15, 2025
A clever joke playing on the mistake. It sarcastically pretends that “taking amphibians” as if referring to performance-enhancing substances derived from frogs or other amphibious creatures would be a violation of MLB’s drug policy. The absurdity of the statement adds to the comedic effect, making fun of the original mistake in a lighthearted manner.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Unreal that people aren’t getting this joke 😂 I love it so much pic.twitter.com/sMzYiTA6ge
— Matthew Crory (@matthewcrory) March 15, 2025
One user even thought that some people didn’t understand the joke, expressing amusement! They found it funny that others were either confused or taking it too seriously, while they personally appreciated the humor. The 😂 emoji reinforces their enjoyment of the situation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
But whether it was an autocorrect fail or an unintentional Yogi Berra moment, fans had a blast reacting to it. And no matter what, Cijntje’s talent speaks for itself—despite what you call him. And hey, maybe he is amphibious after all. With stuff that good, hitters probably feel like they’re drowning.
Have something to say?
Let the world know your perspective.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Debate
Did MLB's 'amphibious' blunder make you laugh, or was it just a swing and a miss?