| José Ureña | |
|---|---|
 Ureña pitching for theNew Orleans Zephyrs in 2016 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1991-09-12)September 12, 1991 (age 34) Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 14, 2015, for the Miami Marlins | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 44–78 |
| Earned run average | 4.75 |
| Strikeouts | 669 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez (born September 12, 1991) is a Dominican professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theMiami Marlins,Detroit Tigers,Milwaukee Brewers,Colorado Rockies,Chicago White Sox,Texas Rangers,New York Mets,Toronto Blue Jays,Los Angeles Dodgers,Minnesota Twins, andLos Angeles Angels.
In 2025, Ureña tied the major league record for most franchises played for in a single season, appearing with five. This tiedMike Baumann (2024),Oliver Drake (2018), andBobo Leonard (1924).[1]
Ureña grew up in the Dominican Republic. TheFlorida Marlins signed him on August 28, 2009,[2] and he spent his first two professional seasons with theDominican Summer League Marlins.[3] In 2011, Ureña played inLow-A with theJamestown Jammers, posting a 4.33 ERA in 15 starts. In 2012, he advanced to full-season Single-A, posting a 3.38 ERA in138+1⁄3 innings with theGreensboro Grasshoppers. In 2013, Ureña played for the High-AJupiter Hammerheads, pitching149+2⁄3 innings with a 3.73 ERA. In 2014, he amassed a record of 13-8, pitching 162 innings with 121 strikeouts and a 3.33 ERA.[3]
Ureña began the 2015 season with theNew Orleans Zephyrs of theTriple–APacific Coast League.[4]
Ureña was called up to the major leagues for the first time on April 13, 2015, to replaceDavid Phelps.[5] In his first major league start on May 26, 2015, against thePittsburgh Pirates, he gave up five runs in4+2⁄3 innings and took the 5–1 loss.[6] In 20 games (9 starts) with the Marlins in 2015, Ureña finished with a 1–5 record and a 5.25 ERA.
In 2016, Ureña split time starting and in the bullpen, finishing the year with a 4–9 record and a 6.13 ERA in 28 games (12 starts).
In 2017, Ureña improved, appearing in 34 games (28 starts) with a 14–7 record, and a 3.82 ERA. He also hit a league-leading 14 batsmen with pitches.
Ureña was named the Opening Day starter for 2018. On Opening Day against theChicago Cubs on March 29, 2018, Ureña did not fare well as he surrendered a home run byIan Happ on the first pitch he threw. He allowed five runs altogether in 4+ innings as the Marlins lost 8-4.[7] Ureña started 16 games for the Marlins before landing on the disabled list with a shoulder injury.[8] On August 15, 2018, he was ejected from a game against theAtlanta Braves after hittingRonald Acuña Jr. on the elbow with the first pitch of the game, which led to the Braves' and Marlins' benches clearing.[9] Acuña had hit a home run in his previous five games. Ureña received a six-game suspension for his role in the altercation.[10][11] In his next start, Ureña threw a complete game against theWashington Nationals, giving up one run on two hits while striking out four batters.[12] He ended the season going 6–0 in his final seven starts to go along with a 1.80 ERA.[13]
By posting a 3.82 ERA in 2017 and a 3.98 ERA in 2018, Ureña became just the sixth starting pitcher in Marlins history to post a sub-4.00 ERA in consecutive seasons, joiningPat Rapp,Kevin Brown,Dontrelle Willis,Josh Johnson, andAníbal Sánchez.[14]
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In 2019, Ureña became the eighth pitcher in Marlins history to make consecutive Opening Day starts.[15] After beginning the season 0–3, he tossedquality starts in eight of his next nine outings, going 4–3 with a 2.95 ERA over that span.[16] Following a start against the Atlanta Braves on June 7, 2019, Ureña was placed on the injured list with a herniated disc in his lower back.[17] At the time of his injury, he was tied for twelfth in MLB with eight quality starts. On November 30, 2020, Ureña was designated for assignment following the acquisition ofAdam Cimber.[18] On December 2, Urena was non-tendered by the Marlins.
On December 23, 2020, Ureña signed a one year, $3.25 million contract with theDetroit Tigers.[19] Ureña earned a spot in the Tigers starting rotation to begin the 2021 season.[20] After three losses to start the season, Ureña earned his first victory as a Tiger on April 27, allowing one earned run in seven innings as the Tigers beat theChicago White Sox, 5–2.[21] On May 2, 2021, Ureña became the first Tiger pitcher sinceDavid Price in2015 to have four consecutive starts of at least seven innings while allowing two runs or fewer in every start. However, due to poor run support, Ureña only won one of these games.[22] Ureña was placed on the 10-day injured list with a groin strain on June 17. He returned to make a start on August 28.[23] He pitched in 26 games (18 starts) for the 2021 Tigers, compiling a 4–8 record with a 5.81 ERA.
On March 29, 2022, Ureña signed a minor league contract with theMilwaukee Brewers.[24] The following day, Ureña had his contract selected to the 40-man and active rosters.[25] He pitched to a 3.52 ERA with 3 strikeouts in 4 relief appearances for Milwaukee before he was designated for assignment on May 2.[26] He elected free agency on May 10, 2022.
On May 13, 2022, Ureña signed a minor league deal with theColorado Rockies organization. On July 6, 2022, he was called up to the majors.[27] In 17 starts for Colorado, Ureña worked to a 3-8 record and 5.14 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 89.1 innings pitched.
On November 11, 2022, Ureña re–signed with Colorado on a one-year, $3 million contract with a 2024 club option. In 5 starts for the Rockies in 2023, he struggled to a 0-4 record and 9.82 ERA with 9 strikeouts in18+1⁄3 innings of work. He was designated for assignment on April 25, 2023.[28] Ureña was released by Colorado on April 27.[29]
On May 3, 2023, Ureña signed a minor league contract with theWashington Nationals organization.[30] In 15 starts for the Triple–ARochester Red Wings, he recorded a 6.31 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 67.0 innings of work. On August 3, Ureña was released by Washington.[31]
On August 8, 2023, Ureña signed a minor league contract with theChicago White Sox organization.[32] In 4 starts for the Triple–ACharlotte Knights, he logged a 3.38 ERA with 20 strikeouts in21+1⁄3 innings pitched.[33] The White Sox purchased Ureña's contract to the major league roster on September 9, and he started that day against theDetroit Tigers.[34] He took the loss after allowing one run on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts in four innings of work.[35] In five starts with the White Sox, Ureña went 0-3 with a 4.10 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched, also logging 2 quality starts.[36] Consistent with his time as a Marlin, Ureña received little run support as a member of the White Sox with the team only scoring 11 total runs in his five starts.[36] He became a free agent on November 2, 2023.[37]
On January 16, 2024, Ureña signed a minor league contract with theTexas Rangers.[38] On March 26, it was announced that Ureña had made Texas' Opening Day roster.[39] Beginning the year in the bullpen, his first five appearances spanned 9.1 scoreless innings mostly working in middle relief.[40] After making 10 appearances as a reliever, Ureña was given the starting nod against theOakland Athletics on May 7, a game in which he got the win after giving up one earned run and striking out two in five innings of work.[41] He remained a member of the starting rotation for an additional five starts, going 2-3 with a 2.84 ERA over that span.[42] On June 5, he took aperfect game into the 6th inning against theDetroit Tigers, before giving up a home run toJustyn-Henry Malloy.[43] He finished the game with the win after striking out six in 6.2 innings pitched.[43] Moving back to the bullpen for the remainder of June, Ureña finished the month with a 0.50 ERA in 18 innings pitched, striking out 13 and walking just three.[44] On June 23, Ureña earned his firstsave of the season after tossing four scoreless innings against theKansas City Royals.[45] On August 19, he became the first Rangers pitcher sincePat Mahomes Sr. to have three relief appearances of four or more scoreless innings in the same season.[46] Ureña finished the season as one of only 12 players in the league to have both a quality start (three) and a save (one), totaling out at 5-8 with a 3.80 ERA in 109 innings of work.[47] He became a free agent on October 31.[37]
On February 27, 2025, Ureña signed a minor league contract with theNew York Mets.[48] He was assigned to the Triple-ASyracuse Mets to begin the year, where he posted a 2.89 ERA with eight strikeouts over three starts. On April 27, the Mets selected Ureña's contract, adding him to their active roster.[49] Ureña made his season debut on April 28 and earned a save despite allowing five earned runs in three innings.[50] He wasdesignated for assignment by the Mets the following day.[51] Ureña elected free agency after clearing waivers on May 1.[52]
On May 5, 2025, Ureña signed a one-year, major league contract with theToronto Blue Jays.[53] In six appearances for Toronto, he recorded a 3.65 ERA with five strikeouts across12+1⁄3 innings pitched. On May 31, Ureña was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays.[54] He cleared waivers and elected free agency on June 2.[55]
On June 3, 2025, Ureña signed a major league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers.[56] He allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk, and recorded two strikeouts in three innings pitched over two appearances for the Dodgers. Ureña was designated for assignment by Los Angeles on June 10,[57] and elected free agency after clearing waivers on June 13.[58]
On June 24, 2025, Ureña signed a minor league contract with theMinnesota Twins.[59] In six appearances (four starts) for the Triple-ASt. Paul Saints, he logged an 0-1 record and 4.05 ERA with 13 strikeouts across13+1⁄3 innings pitched. On August 1, the Twins selected Ureña's contract, adding him to their active roster.[60] In his first game for the Twins, Ureña pitched 4 innings with two earned runs in an eventual win against theCleveland Guardians. In four appearances (three starts) for Minnesota, he logged an 0-1 record and 4.58 ERA with 10 strikeouts across17+2⁄3 innings pitched. Ureña was designated for assignment by the Twins on August 23.[61] He elected free agency after clearing waivers on August 25.[62]
On August 31, 2025, Ureña signed a major league contract with theLos Angeles Angels.[63] On September 5, 2025, Ureña made his debut for the Angels in a 10–4 loss to theAthletics, tying the major league record for the most franchises played for in a single season with five. He shares the record withMike Baumann (2024),Oliver Drake (2018), andBobo Leonard (1924).[64]
According to a scouting report prepared for MLB's 2014 midseason prospect rankings, the eighth-ranked Ureña had "an above-average fastball that can touch the mid 90s", a change-up, and a breaking ball that is "a combination of a slider and a curve". He was said to have "above-average command".[2] However, Ureña's command of the ball has dipped significantly since the start of the 2017 season withESPN writers recognizing "a history of control problems," noting that he hit 14 batters in 2017, tying in MLB for hit batters, and as of hittingRonald Acuña Jr. in 2018, had tied for second in theNational League, hitting 10 batters.[65]
According to Fangraphs, Ureña throwsfour-seam andsinking two-seam fastballs that each average 95 MPH (topping out at 99 MPH). His "slurve" is thrown at 84 to 88 MPH, and he mixes in achangeup at about 89 MPH.[66]