José Quijada Bio
José Gregorio Quijada, born on November 9, 1995, is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Over the course of his career, Quijada has built a reputation as a left-handed relief pitcher known for his strikeout ability and high-leverage usage. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Angels, gaining experience across both organizations before transitioning to play in Japan. His journey through professional baseball has spanned more than a decade, beginning in the Dominican Summer League and culminating in international competition.
Early Life and Background
José Gregorio Quijada was born on November 9, 1995, in Venezuela, and he grew up in a country with a deep and celebrated baseball tradition. From a young age, he was surrounded by the sport, which is widely considered the national pastime of Venezuela. His Venezuelan heritage placed him within a pipeline of talented pitchers who have developed into professional players on the international stage.
Quijada was signed as an international free agent by the Miami Marlins on September 9, 2013, which marked the formal beginning of his professional career. His path through the Marlins system started at the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League Marlins in 2014, where he posted a 5–5 record with a 2.91 earned run average (ERA) over 74 innings. The following year, he pitched 8 innings for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Marlins, going 0–0 with a 0.00 ERA, demonstrating early flashes of control and command on the mound.
Path to Baseball
Quijada advanced steadily through the minor league system, splitting the 2016 season between the Class A Greensboro Grasshoppers and the Class A-Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads, where he compiled a 5–2 record with a 2.32 ERA over 50 innings. The next year, he continued to progress between Jupiter and the Double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, producing a 5–1 record with a 3.23 ERA over 55.2 innings. In 2018, Quijada split his season between Jacksonville and the Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes, finishing with a 2–6 record and a 3.00 ERA over 62.1 innings. After the 2018 season, the Marlins added him to their 40-man roster, signaling that the organization viewed him as a prospect worth protecting.
José Quijada Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
Quijada’s early professional years were defined by gradual development and a steady climb through the Marlins’ minor league affiliates. From his debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2014 to his time in Class A and Double-A, he established himself as a left-handed pitcher with the potential to contribute at higher levels. His time in Jacksonville and New Orleans provided the toughest test of his development, facing more advanced hitters while still maintaining competitive earned run averages.
The decision by the Marlins to add him to the 40-man roster after the 2018 season reflected his progress and the organization’s belief in his long-term potential. That offseason move positioned Quijada for an opportunity to break into the major leagues, setting the stage for his MLB debut the following spring.
Miami Marlins Era (2019–2020)
Quijada opened the 2019 season with Triple-A New Orleans before being promoted to the major league roster for the first time on April 23, 2019. He made his MLB debut on April 24, pitching two-thirds of an inning in relief. His first major league decision came on May 8 of that year, when he took a loss against the Chicago Cubs after allowing a walk-off solo home run to Jason Heyward in the 11th inning. He was optioned back to New Orleans three days later, completing his first taste of MLB action.
Quijada’s time with the Marlins ended on February 3, 2020, when he was designated for assignment by the club. Although his tenure in Miami was brief, the experience provided him with valuable major league exposure and a foundation for the next chapter of his career.
Los Angeles Angels Era (2020–2025)
On February 10, 2020, Quijada was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels, beginning a multi-year run with the organization. His first season in Anaheim was challenging, as he pitched to a 7.36 ERA with 6 strikeouts in just over three innings of work. The early years with the Angels included a difficult moment on September 11, when he surrendered a walk-off grand slam to Charlie Blackmon of the Colorado Rockies.
Quijada rebounded in 2021, making 26 appearances and posting a 4.56 ERA across 25.2 innings. One of his most memorable performances came on October 1, 2021, in a game against a Seattle Mariners team attempting to make the playoffs for the first time in 20 years. With baserunners on first and third and no outs, Quijada struck out all three batters he faced, thwarting a critical opportunity for Seattle and severely damaging their playoff chances. In 2022, he pitched in 42 games for the Angels, recording a 3.98 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 3 saves over 40.2 innings.
Quijada’s 2023 season was cut short after just 10 appearances by an injury that led to Tommy John surgery, announced on May 3, 2023. He returned from the injured list on July 22, 2024, and went on to make 22 appearances for the Angels, compiling a 2–2 record and a 3.26 ERA with 24 strikeouts across 19.1 innings. On March 25, 2025, Quijada was designated for assignment by the Angels, then cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Salt Lake. He was added back to the active roster on July 24, 2025, made two scoreless appearances, and was designated for assignment again on July 30. After clearing waivers once more, he elected free agency on October 3, 2025.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows Era (2025–Present)
On December 19, 2025, Quijada signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Nippon Professional Baseball, beginning a new chapter in his professional career in Japan. Through the early portion of the 2026 NPB season, he has posted a 1–1 record with a 0.90 ERA and 28 strikeouts, demonstrating an immediate impact with his new club. His transition to NPB represents a significant international opportunity and reflects the global reach of his professional career.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a left-handed relief pitcher, Quijada’s primary strength has been his ability to generate strikeouts in high-leverage situations. He has frequently been deployed in late-inning roles, and his career-defining moments, including the dramatic three-strikeout performance against Seattle, highlight his composure under pressure. His strikeout totals across both MLB and NPB reflect a pitcher who relies on swing-and-miss stuff to navigate opposing lineups.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Quijada’s career, his October 1, 2021 performance against the Seattle Mariners stands out as a defining display of his strikeout ability in a high-stakes situation. He has also recorded saves during his time with the Angels, including 3 saves in 2022 and 4 saves in 2023, and has posted a sub-1.00 ERA early in his NPB tenure with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. His transition to Japan after a long MLB career represents a notable milestone in his professional journey.
José Quijada Career Wins
Across his professional career, José Quijada has compiled wins in multiple minor league levels and has recorded victories in both MLB and NPB. His professional journey began with wins in the Dominican Summer League in 2014, and he continued adding victories through the Class A, Double-A, and Triple-A levels of the Marlins and Angels systems. In the major leagues, he has recorded regular-season wins with the Los Angeles Angels, and in NPB he has already secured a win in the early stages of the 2026 season with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
MLB Highlights
Quijada’s major league win totals are reflected in his career MLB record of 4–14 with a 4.59 ERA and 175 strikeouts through the 2025 season. His most productive MLB season came in 2022, when he made 42 appearances for the Angels, and he returned from Tommy John surgery to post a 2–2 record in 2024. His first major league decision was a loss, but he continued to develop into a reliable relief option throughout his Angels tenure.
NPB Highlights
In his first season with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Quijada has begun his NPB career with a 1–1 record, a 0.90 ERA, and 28 strikeouts through the early part of the 2026 season. Those numbers suggest a strong start to his career in Japan and an encouraging foundation for continued success with the Swallows.
José Quijada Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about José Quijada’s immediate family and early upbringing is limited. As a Venezuelan-born athlete, he is part of a country with a rich baseball heritage, and his signing as an international free agent at a young age reflects the early pathway many Venezuelan players follow to reach professional baseball.
Personal Life
Details about José Quijada’s personal life, including marital status and family, are not widely documented in publicly available sources. His professional career has taken him from Venezuela to the United States and now to Japan, reflecting a life shaped primarily by his dedication to the sport of baseball.
2025 Season Performance
Quijada’s 2025 season with the Los Angeles Angels organization was a tale of movement between the major league roster and the minor leagues. After being designated for assignment on March 25, 2025, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Salt Lake, where he made 27 appearances for the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas. During that stretch, he compiled a 2–1 record and a 2.73 ERA with 39 strikeouts across 26.1 innings pitched, demonstrating strong performance at the minor league level.
On July 24, 2025, the Angels added Quijada back to their active roster, and he made two scoreless appearances before being designated for assignment again on July 30. After clearing waivers a second time, he was sent outright to Triple-A Salt Lake on August 4, and he elected free agency on October 3, 2025. The 2025 season ultimately set the stage for his transition to international baseball.
The outlook for Quijada following the 2025 season pointed toward a new opportunity abroad, which materialized when he signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows on December 19, 2025. His early results in NPB suggest that the move has provided a fresh start, and he appears positioned to continue his career as a productive relief pitcher in Japan’s top professional league.