Jose Quintana Bio
Jose Quintana, whose full name is Jose Guillermo Quintana, is a Colombian-American professional baseball pitcher who has spent more than a decade in Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed starter known for his steady command and durable innings, Quintana has pitched for nine different MLB franchises since 2012, including the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and Milwaukee Brewers. He is currently a free agent after competing in MLB through the 2026 season.
Born in Colombia on January 24, 1989, Quintana moved through the minor leagues as a teenager before reaching the majors in 2012. He earned an All-Star selection in 2016 and has built a reputation as a reliable mid-rotation starter. He became an American citizen in 2024 and now lives in the Miami area with his family.
Early Life and Background
Jose Guillermo Quintana was born on January 24, 1989, in Colombia. He grew up in a country where baseball, while not the most popular sport, produced a steady stream of talent that eventually reached the major leagues. Quintana developed his pitching skills in his home country before pursuing a professional career abroad, signing his first contract as a teenager.
He signed as an international free agent with the New York Mets organization, which sent him to the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League in 2006. He did not play in 2007 after being suspended for violating the terms of Minor League Baseball’s drug policy. Quintana later signed with the New York Yankees in 2008, beginning a long climb through the lower levels of professional baseball.
Path to Major League Baseball
Quintana worked his way through several developmental leagues during his time in the Yankees system. He pitched in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2008 and 2009, then moved to the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and the Class A Charleston RiverDogs of the South Atlantic League in 2010. In 2011, he posted a 10-2 record with a 2.91 earned run average and 88 strikeouts in 102 innings for the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, establishing himself as a prospect worth watching.
After becoming a minor league free agent, Quintana drew interest from the Chicago White Sox. Scouts Daraka Shaheed and Joe Siers, who had watched him pitch in the Florida State League, recommended that the team sign him. The White Sox offered him a major league contract on November 10, 2011, and assigned him to the Birmingham Barons of the Class AA Southern League to begin the 2012 season.
Jose Quintana Career
Early Career (2012-2014)
Quintana made his MLB debut on May 7, 2012, in the first game of a doubleheader, pitching more than five and two-thirds innings in relief and allowing no runs. He earned his first major league victory on May 25, 2012, against the Cleveland Indians, pitching six innings and giving up two runs. In his rookie season, he appeared in 25 games and made 22 starts, going 6-6 with a 3.76 ERA.
He settled into Chicago’s rotation in 2013, pitching 200 innings in 33 starts with a 9-7 record and a 3.51 ERA. On March 24, 2014, Quintana signed a five-year extension with the White Sox that included club options, and the deal was later valued at a guaranteed $26.5 million. He continued to log heavy workloads, making 32 starts in 2014 and finishing 9-11 with a 3.32 ERA.
Chicago White Sox Breakthrough (2012-2017)
Quintana’s role with the White Sox grew steadily after his debut, and by 2015 he was one of the most reliable starters in the American League. He went 9-10 with a 3.36 ERA and 177 strikeouts in 206 and one-third innings that year and led all major league pitchers in curveball percentage at 30.9 percent. His ability to miss bats and eat innings made him a fixture of the Chicago rotation.
In 2016, Quintana earned his first and only All-Star selection, joining the American League roster as an injury replacement for Danny Salazar. He finished the year 13-12 with a 3.20 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 32 starts and tied for tenth in the American League Cy Young Award voting. The White Sox named him their Opening Day starter for the 2017 season before trading him to the Chicago Cubs in July.
Chicago Cubs Era (2017-2020)
The Cubs acquired Quintana from the White Sox on July 13, 2017, sending prospects Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease, Matt Rose, and Bryant Flete to Chicago. He made an immediate impact, striking out 12 in his first Cubs start during an 8-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Between the two teams in 2017, he finished 11-11 with a 4.15 ERA.
Quintana posted a 13-11 record with a 4.03 ERA in 32 starts for the Cubs in 2018 and started the National League Central tie-breaker game against the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2019, he went 13-9 with a 4.68 ERA, and the Cubs exercised their $10.5 million contract option on him for 2019. His 2020 season was cut short when he underwent surgery in July to repair a lacerated nerve on his throwing thumb, an injury he sustained while washing dishes, and he pitched only 10 innings that year.
New York Mets Era (2023-2024)
After stints with the Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals in 2021 and 2022, Quintana signed a two-year, $26 million contract with the New York Mets on December 9, 2022. A stress fracture in his rib cage and a subsequent surgery delayed his 2023 debut until July 20, and he finished the year 3-6 with a 3.57 ERA in 13 starts.
Quintana started for the Mets on Opening Day of the 2024 season and recorded his 100th career win against the Cincinnati Reds on September 7, pitching six and two-thirds shutout innings. That victory made him the first Colombian-born pitcher to reach the 100-win milestone. He closed 2024 with a 10-10 record, a 3.75 ERA, and 135 strikeouts in 170 and one-third innings, and he delivered six scoreless innings in the decisive Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Brewers.
Milwaukee Brewers Era (2025)
On March 5, 2025, Quintana signed a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers and consented to an option to Triple-A Nashville to begin the season. He debuted with the Brewers on April 11 and became the 24th pitcher in major league history to earn a win against all 30 teams when he defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks. He opened his Brewers tenure with four consecutive April wins and a 1.14 ERA for the month.
Quintana went 11-7 with a 3.96 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 131 and two-thirds innings during the 2025 regular season. A left calf strain placed him on the injured list in mid-September, but he returned for the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs and pitched three scoreless relief innings in Game 3 at Wrigley Field. The Brewers declined his option on November 4, 2025, returning him to free agency.
Driving Style and Strengths
Quintana has built his career on command, durability, and the consistent use of his curveball, which he threw more often than any pitcher in the major leagues in 2015. He works efficiently, keeps his walk totals low, and reliably delivers between 150 and 200 innings when healthy, which has allowed him to remain a steady presence in the middle of multiple rotations across both leagues.
Notable Events and Milestones
Quintana’s most celebrated milestones include his 2016 All-Star selection, his 2017 trade to the Cubs, and his 100th career win in 2024, which made him the first Colombian-born pitcher to reach that mark. He also represented Colombia in the 2017 and 2026 World Baseball Classics and was named to the qualifying roster for the 2023 event before withdrawing due to injury.
Jose Quintana Career Wins
Through the 2025 season, Quintana had compiled 115 career wins against 113 losses with a 3.79 ERA and 1,836 strikeouts, totals that placed him among the most durable Latin American starters of his generation. His victories have come across nine organizations, reflecting both his longevity and his value as a trade-deadlinestarter. He has been particularly effective against the teams that traded for him, posting some of his most memorable performances in new uniforms shortly after arriving.
MLB Highlights
Quintana earned his first major league win on May 25, 2012, against the Cleveland Indians, and added his most recent notable victory with the Brewers in 2025. He became the 24th pitcher in MLB history to defeat all 30 teams when he beat the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 11, 2025. He also produced a 0.89 ERA across five September starts for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022 and pitched five and one-third scoreless innings in Game 1 of that year’s Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Other Wins and Performances
Before reaching the majors, Quintana went 10-2 with the Class A-Advanced Tampa Yankees in 2011, a season that convinced the White Sox to sign him. He has also been a steady postseason contributor, posting a 3.14 ERA across three starts for the Mets in the 2024 MLB postseason. His track record of strong September performances has made him a dependable option down the stretch for several contenders.
Jose Quintana Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Quintana was born and raised in Colombia before moving to the United States to pursue his professional baseball career. He became an American citizen in 2024, formalizing his Colombian-American identity that had been part of his professional profile for years. His family has remained closely tied to his career, with his wife traveling with him during postseason runs.
Personal Life
Quintana is married to his wife, Michel, and the couple has two daughters. The family lives in the Miami area, where they have settled after years of moving between organizations. During the 2017 MLB postseason, a Cubs charter flight carrying Quintana was diverted to Albuquerque when his wife fell ill, but he still started the team’s next game.
2025 Season Performance
Quintana’s 2025 season with the Milwaukee Brewers began on a high note, as he won all four of his April starts and posted a 1.14 ERA for the month. He became only the 24th pitcher in MLB history to earn a win against all 30 teams when he defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 11. His early success helped stabilize a Brewers rotation that relied on his veteran presence.
Although his ERA climbed in May, June, and July, Quintana continued to log quality starts and reached a 9-4 record by early August. He took a comebacker off his leg in September and was later placed on the 15-day injured list with a left calf strain, ending his regular season. He finished 11-7 with a 3.96 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 131 and two-thirds innings.
Quintana returned for the Brewers in the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs and pitched three scoreless relief innings in Game 3 at Wrigley Field. The Brewers later declined his contract option on November 4, 2025, making him a free agent once again. His performance in 2025 reaffirmed his value as a dependable innings-eater capable of contributing in both starting and relief roles.
