| José Quintana | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Quintana with the Mets in 2024 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1989-01-24)January 24, 1989 (age 36) Arjona, Bolívar,Colombia | |
Bats: Right Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 7, 2012, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 113–110 |
| Earned run average | 3.76 |
| Strikeouts | 1,816 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
José Guillermo Quintana (born January 24, 1989) is a Colombian-American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theChicago White Sox,Chicago Cubs,Los Angeles Angels,San Francisco Giants,Pittsburgh Pirates,St. Louis Cardinals,New York Mets, andMilwaukee Brewers.
Quintana pitched inMinor League Baseball for the Mets andNew York Yankees organizations before becoming afree agent and signing with the White Sox before the 2012 season. He made his MLB debut in 2012, and was named anAll-Star in 2016. The White Sox traded Quintana to the Cubs during the 2017 season, and he played for the Angels and Giants during the 2021 season. Quintana became a free agent after the 2022 season, and signed a contract with the Mets for the 2023 season. After becoming a free agent following the 2024 season, he signed with the Brewers for the 2025 season.
Quintana signed as an internationalfree agent with theNew York Mets, and began his professional career in theRookie-levelVenezuelan Summer League (VSL), pitching for theVSL Mets in 2006. He did not play in 2007 as he was suspended for violating the terms ofMinor League Baseball's drug policy.[1]
Quintana signed with theNew York Yankees in 2008. He pitched the 2008 and 2009 seasons in the Rookie-levelDominican Summer League (DSL) with theDSL Yankees 2. In 2010, he pitched for theGulf Coast Yankees of the Rookie-levelGulf Coast League and theCharleston RiverDogs of theClass ASouth Atlantic League.[2] In 2011, Quintana posted a 10–2win–loss record and a 2.91earned run average (ERA), with 88strikeouts in 102innings pitched for theTampa Yankees of theClass A-AdvancedFlorida State League (FSL).[1][3] He became a minor leaguefree agent after the 2011 season.[4]
Chicago White Sox'scouts Daraka Shaheed and Joe Siers, who watched Quintana pitch in the FSL the previous season, recommended that the team sign him.[4] Quintana signed with the White Sox, receiving a major league contract, on November 10, 2011.[5] The White Sox assigned Quintana to theBirmingham Barons of theClass AASouthern League.
After he started the season with a 1–2 win–loss record, a 3.06 ERA, and 26 strikeouts in 35 innings pitched for Birmingham, the White Sox promoted Quintana to the majors on May 7, 2012, in accordance with the new MLB rule allowing teams to carry a 26th man on their 25-man roster during the day of adoubleheader. He made his MLB debut in the first game of the doubleheader, pitching5+2⁄3 innings in relief, allowing no runs, one hit, and two walks while striking out three.[6] Quintana was optioned back to Birmingham the next day, staying until May 24, when he was promoted to theCharlotte Knights of theClass AAAInternational League.[7] One day later, having not thrown a pitch for the Knights, Quintana was promoted to Chicago, asJohn Danks was placed on the 15-dayIL.[8] On May 25, Quintana got his first Major League victory during a 9–3 victory over theCleveland Indians, pitching six innings, giving up two runs on four hits, walking three, and striking out four.
During a game against theTampa Bay Rays on May 30, 2012, Quintana was ejected by umpireMark Wegner after throwing a pitch behindBen Zobrist.[9][10][11] During the 2012 year, Quintana appeared in 25 games making 22 starts going 6–6 with a 3.76 ERA.
In 2013, Quintana pitched 200 innings in 33 starts, going 9–7 with 164 strikeouts and a 3.51 ERA. His 17no decisions were the most among MLB starting pitchers in 2013.[12] On March 24, 2014, Quintana signed a five-year extension with the White Sox, which also included club options for a further two years. He qualified as a "Super 2" arbitration eligible player after the 2014 season, activating a clause in his contract which made the deal worth a guaranteed $26.5 million.[13] During the 2014 year, Quintana made 32 starts, going 9–11 with 178 strikeouts and a 3.32 ERA in200+1⁄3 innings.[14] He followed up with a 3.36 ERA and 9–10 record with 177 strikeouts in206+1⁄3 innings in 2015. That season he led all major league pitchers incurveball percentage (30.9%).[15]
Through theAll-Star break in 2016, Quintana pitched to a 7–8 record with a 3.21 ERA in117+2⁄3 innings pitched. He was named to theMLB All-Star Game as an injury replacement forDanny Salazar.[16] He finished the season 13–12 with a 3.20 ERA, and striking out 181 batters, while making 32 starts.[17] Quintana finished tied for tenth in the voting for the American LeagueCy Young Award withMichael Fulmer, receiving one fifth place vote.[18]
The White Sox named him theirOpening Day starting pitcher for the 2017 season.[19]
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On July 13, 2017, the White Sox traded Quintana to theChicago Cubs for prospectsEloy Jiménez,Dylan Cease, Matt Rose, and Bryant Flete.[20] He made his first start for the Cubs on July 16, striking out 12 in an 8–0 victory against theBaltimore Orioles.[21] Quintana struggled in August, allowing six home runs in 33 innings pitched and allowing six runs in two of the games he started, but had a 2.51 ERA in five starts in September.[22] Between the two teams, in 2017 he was 11–11 with a 4.15 ERA.
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Quintana had a 13–11 record and a 4.03 ERA in 32 starts for the Cubs in 2018.[23] He started the2018 National League Central tie-breaker game,[24] also known as Game 163, in which theMilwaukee Brewers defeated the Cubs. After the season, the Cubs exercised their $10.5 million contract option on Quintana for the 2019 season.[23]
Quintana pitched to a 4–1 record with a 2.02 ERA for the month of August 2019.[25] In 2019 he was 13–9 with a 4.68 ERA.
In July 2020, Quintana underwent surgery to repair a lacerated nerve on his thumb on his throwing arm, which he incurred while washing dishes.[26] He pitched 10 innings in the season, with a 4.50 ERA.
On January 22, 2021, Quintana signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Angels.[27] On May 31, he was placed on the 10-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation.[28] He was activated from the injured list on June 21 and made his return the next day against theSan Francisco Giants, and was moved to the bullpen in the process.[29] Quintana struggled for the Angels, posting an 0–3 record with a 6.75 ERA, and 73 strikeouts through 24 appearances.
On August 30, 2021, Quintana was claimed off of waivers by theSan Francisco Giants.[30] Quintana made five appearances for the Giants, posting a 4.66 ERA with 12 strikeouts. On September 30, he was designated for assignment. On October 15, Quintana elected free agency.[31]
On November 29, 2021, thePittsburgh Pirates signed Quintana to a one-year contract for $2 million.[32] After having fourno decisions and a loss in his first five games as a Pirate, Quintana earned his first win with the team on May 9, pitching six scoreless innings against theLos Angeles Dodgers, striking out five.[33] He tossed seven scoreless innings the very next game against the division rivalReds, but was given anotherno decision as the team failed to score while he was on the field.[33] For May, he compiled a 2.00 ERA in 27 innings pitched, striking out 21, and going 1–1 for the month.[33]
After compiling a 4.80 ERA and a 0–2 record in six starts in June, Quintana compiled a 3.67 ERA and a 2–1 record in July, earning victories against theNew York Yankees on July 5, and against theMiami Marlins on July 23, tossing seven scoreless and striking out four in the latter game.[33]
On July 29, the Pirates traded Quintana andChris Stratton to theSt. Louis Cardinals for Malcom Núñez andJohan Oviedo.[34] He had a 3.50 ERA at this point in the season.[33] He made his debut for the Cardinals on August 4 in the second game of a double-header atBusch Stadium, tossing six innings of one-run baseball, and striking out seven. He was charged with another no decision, although St. Louis would win the game, 7–2.[33] He earned his first win with the team against theColorado Rockies in his next start.[33] He ended August with a 3.38 ERA for the month, a 1–1 record, and 20 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched.[33] In September, Quintana won his first start of the month against theWashington Nationals on September 6, and followed this up with eight scoreless innings and six strikeouts against theCincinnati Reds on September 17.[33] Quintana had a 0.89 ERA in five starts in September, pitching 30 innings, striking out 28 while walking just three, and only allowed three earned runs during the whole month.[33]
For the 2022 season, Quintana finished with a career-best 2.93 ERA in165+2⁄3 total innings pitched, striking out 137 in 32 games played, all of them starts.[33] Quintana started Game 1 ofWild Card Series against thePhiladelphia Phillies.[35] In the game, he pitched5+1⁄3 scoreless innings, striking out three, and walking just one. However, he was charged with another no-decision, as Phillies starting pitcherZack Wheeler kept the Cardinals from scoring.[36]
On December 9, 2022, Quintana signed a two-year, $26 million contract with theNew York Mets.[37] Just an inning and two thirds intospring training, however, Quintana was diagnosed with astress fracture in hisrib cage. He withdrew from the2023 World Baseball Classic, in which he had been expected to lead theColombia national baseball team's pitching staff.[38] The Mets announced the following week that additional testing found a benignlesion on his rib and that Quintana would be undergoing surgery which would keep him out until at least July.[39] On June 13, 2023, he began a rehab assignment with the Low–ASt. Lucie Mets.[40] Quintana was activated from the injured list on July 14,[41] and made his season debut against theChicago White Sox on July 20 striking out 3 batters allowing no walks, 2 runs, and 6 hits in 5 innings. Quintana made 13 starts for the Mets in 2023, posting a 3–6 record, a 3.57 ERA, and 60 strikeouts across75+2⁄3 innings pitched.
Quintana started for the Mets on Opening Day of the 2024 season.[42] 7–9 through the start of September, he recorded his 100th career win against theCincinnati Reds on September 7, striking out 6 in6+2⁄3 shutout innings.[43] As such, he became the first Colombian-born pitcher to attain the milestone, and helped the Mets achieve their 9th straight win. Quintana would end his 2024 campaign with a 10–10 record, a 3.75 ERA, and 135 strikeouts in170+1⁄3 innings. He went 3–1 in September with a 0.73 ERA for the month, following a loss against theMilwaukee Brewers on September 28.[44]
In the2024 NL Wild Card Series against the Brewers, Quintana was stated to start the decisive Game 3. In the game, he pitched 6 scoreless innings, striking out 5 and walking just one. He was given a no-decision, as he dueled against rookieTobias Myers, who also blanked the Mets. The Mets would advance, however, after rallying in the 9th inning from aPete Alonso 3-run home run to overcome a 0–2 deficit, eventually winning 4–2.[45] In the2024 MLB postseason, Quintana made 3 starts for the Mets, posting a 3.14 ERA and 13 strikeouts across14+1⁄3 innings pitched.[46]
On March 5, 2025, Quintana signed a one-year,$4.25 million contract with theMilwaukee Brewers.[47] He consented to be optioned to the Triple-ANashville Sounds to begin the season, in order to build up after missing half of spring training.[48] On April 11, in his first started as a Brewer, Quintana became the24th pitcher to earn a win against all 30 teams against theArizona Diamondbacks. He joinedGerrit Cole,Charlie Morton,Max Scherzer, andJustin Verlander as the only active pitchers to do so.[49]
Quintana started his Brewers tenure with a tremendous April, winning all 4 of his starts, and recording a superb 1.14 ERA for the month.[50] Despite sporting a higher ERA on all subsequent months after this, with a 6.10 in May (2 starts), 4.15 in June (5 starts), and 4.03 in July (4 starts), Quintana pitched to a 9–4 record through his second start of August, a 5–4 win over theAtlanta Braves, in which he recorded a season-high 7 strikeouts, while allowing 3 earned runs in 6 innings of work.[51] On September 14, during a loss against theSt. Louis Cardinals, Quintana took a comebacker to the leg fromPedro Pagés in the 4th inning. He finished the frame, but was ultimately pulled from the game by managerPat Murphy out of caution.[52] 3 days later, on September 17, Quintana was placed on the 15 day injured list due to a left calf strain, effectively ending his regular season. On his first season with the Brewers, Quintana pitched to a 11–7 record, a 3.96 ERA, and 89 strikeouts in131+2⁄3 innings of work.
Quintana returned to the Brewers for theNLDS series against the rivalChicago Cubs, apperaring in Game 3 atWrigley Field. He pitched 3 scoreless innings, striking out two, in relief ofQuinn Priester, who allowed 4 runs in the first inning, in an eventual 4-3 loss. Quintana also made to 40-man roster for theNLCS against theLos Angeles Dodgers. His option was declined on November 4, 2025, making him a free agent.[53]
Quintana pitched for theColombia national baseball team in the2017 World Baseball Classic.[17][54] He was slated to play with Colombia at the2023 World Baseball Classic, but withdrew due to astress fracture in hisrib cage during spring training with the Mets.[55]
Quintana was named to the Colombian roster for the2026 World Baseball Classic qualifiers, held in March 2025 in Tucson, Arizona.[56]
Quintana and his wife, Michel, live in the Miami area and have two daughters.[57][58] During the2017 Major League Baseball postseason, the Cubs'chartered flight from Washington to Los Angeles had to be diverted to Albuquerque when Quintana's wife fell ill. He started the team's next game nonetheless.[59] Quintana became an American citizen in 2024.[57]
