1. Early life and education
Carlos Quentin's early life was spent in Chula Vista, California, where he attended Saint Pius X Elementary School. He excelled both academically and athletically, continuing his multi-sport success into his college career at Stanford University.
1.1. Early life and high school
Quentin attended University of San Diego High School, where he was a standout three-sport athlete, participating in baseball, football, and basketball. In baseball, he led his team to two Western League Championships and set school records with 28 home runs and 119 RBIs. His achievements in football were equally impressive; in his senior year, he was selected First Team All-County, All-CIF, and All-Western League, and was named Western League Defensive Player of the Year as an outside linebacker. He also secured two league and two section titles in football. Additionally, he was part of the 1997 high school state championship team in basketball. In recognition of his diverse athletic talents, he was named the San Diego Male Athlete of the Year in 2000. Beyond sports, Quentin was also on his school's honor roll.
1.2. College career
Quentin continued his athletic and academic pursuits at Stanford University, where he played college baseball. He was named All-Pac-10 in all three seasons he played (freshman, sophomore, and junior). Baseball America magazine also honored him in all three seasons. In 2001, he was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. During his junior season in 2003, he earned Third Team All-American honors from the NCBWA and was one of five finalists for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award. At Stanford, he played alongside future major leaguers such as Sam Fuld and Jed Lowrie.
A notable incident in his college career occurred on February 9, 2002, in a game against the Florida State Seminoles team, where Quentin was hit by a pitch five times, setting a college baseball record. Quentin helped lead the Stanford Cardinal to postseason appearances in all three years of his collegiate career, including three consecutive College World Series appearances. His final college game was a 2-for-2 performance with 2 RBIs in Stanford's 2003 College World Series Championship Series Game 3 loss to Rice University. He concluded his Stanford career with a .350 batting average, 35 home runs, 170 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases in 199 games.
2. Professional career
Carlos Quentin's professional baseball career began with his selection in the MLB draft, followed by his journey through the minor leagues and significant tenures with three Major League Baseball teams, where he battled injuries and showcased his powerful hitting.
2.1. Draft and minor league career
Quentin was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round, 29th overall, of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft. He did not play in 2003 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, a rare procedure for a non-pitcher. After recovering, he quickly became a key part of the Diamondbacks' talented group of young prospects.
In 2004, Quentin set a minor league record by being hit by a pitch 43 times. That same season, he led all Arizona minor league players in several offensive categories, including batting average (.332), RBIs (91), runs (103), hits (157), and walks (69). These impressive statistics were accumulated across Single-A Lancaster and Double-A El Paso. During this period, he also starred in a television show that chronicled the life of a minor league player, alongside Chris Young and Dustin Nippert.
2.2. Arizona Diamondbacks
Quentin was called up to the Diamondbacks on July 20, 2006, after hitting .290 with 30 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, and 52 RBIs in 85 games for the Tucson Sidewinders. In his Major League debut, after grounding out in his first two at-bats, Quentin hit a two-run home run off Mark Hendrickson in the sixth inning, contributing to Arizona's 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. His arrival had been highly anticipated by Diamondbacks fans, as he was expected to become the everyday right fielder, potentially succeeding Shawn Green. Green was traded to the New York Mets in August, which opened the way for Quentin to become a full-time starter. Quentin finished the 2006 season with a .253 batting average, nine home runs, and 32 RBIs in 57 games for the Diamondbacks.
The 2007 season started with Quentin on the disabled list due to a partial tear of his left labrum, diagnosed during Spring Training. He made his season debut on April 16 against the Dodgers, going 2-for-4 with two doubles. However, he struggled through the first half of the season, posting a .210 batting average with five home run and 28 RBIs in 66 games, which led to his demotion to Triple-A on July 6. The Japanese source indicates that he lost his regular position to Justin Upton that season. After the season, Quentin underwent surgery for his injured left shoulder.
2.3. Chicago White Sox
On December 3, 2007, Quentin was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league first baseman Chris Carter, who was considered one of the White Sox's top prospects.
2.3.1. 2008
The 2008 season proved to be a breakout year for Quentin with the White Sox, as he unexpectedly emerged as one of the team's premier hitters. Before the season, he was competing for an outfield spot with his college friend Brian Anderson, but an injury to Jerry Owens before opening day created a regular position for him. By August 18, he was leading the American League in home runs (35) and ranked third in slugging percentage (.586), OPS (.981), and runs batted in (96). His exceptional performance led to calls for him to be considered for the AL MVP award, with teammate A. J. Pierzynski stating, "As far as I'm concerned, Quentin has been the American League MVP." In a game against the Seattle Mariners on August 18, Quentin hit his 35th home run of the season in a 13-5 victory.
In August 2008, Quentin set a Major League record by being hit by a pitch in six consecutive games; as of 2020, no other player has been hit in more than five straight games. Due to Jim Thome's slow start, manager Ozzie Guillén moved Quentin to the customary third spot in the batting order for the game against the Angels on May 14. Quentin responded with a crucial eighth-inning grand slam, breaking a 1-1 tie. This sparked a run where the White Sox won 10 of 12 games and moved into first place, with Quentin remaining in the third spot. On May 25, during a nationally televised home game, Quentin hit two home runs off the Angels' John Lackey, driving in all of the White Sox's runs in a 3-2 walk-off victory. His powerful home runs drew comparisons to sluggers like José Canseco and Luis Gonzalez, with Angels center fielder Torii Hunter describing his power as "tremendous pop, like Hulk Hogan. He's crazy strong."
Unfortunately, Quentin's season ended prematurely. On September 1, 2008, in a game against the Indians, he fractured his wrist after slamming his bat in frustration following a foul tip. He underwent surgery and missed the remainder of the season. Despite missing the final month, Quentin finished the year with a .288 batting average, 36 home runs, 100 RBIs, and a .394 on-base percentage in 130 games. Defensively, he had the lowest fielding percentage (.971) among all starting AL left fielders in 2008. For his offensive prowess, he was awarded his first Silver Slugger Award. Quentin finished fifth in the balloting for AL MVP, behind Dustin Pedroia, Justin Morneau, Kevin Youkilis, and Joe Mauer.
2.3.2. 2009
Quentin started the 2009 season strongly but entered a slump after suffering from plantar fasciitis, which affected his swing. He was forced to miss several games in May due to the injury and was eventually placed on the 15-day disabled list at the end of the month. He was activated on July 20 after a minor league rehabilitation assignment and remained with the team for the rest of the year. In 99 games, Quentin hit .236 with 21 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a .779 on-base plus slugging percentage, marking his second consecutive season with over 20 home runs. In 2009, he was also ranked #40 on Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball, a list compiled from a poll of 100 baseball figures.
2.3.3. 2010
For the 2010 season, Quentin moved from left field to right field as the White Sox acquired Juan Pierre to play left field, and former right fielder Jermaine Dye became a free agent. Quentin experienced a batting slump for much of the first half of the season, hitting just .201 with eight home runs through 55 games by June 13. However, he began to turn his performance around with a hot streak in late June, which coincided with an 11-game winning streak for the White Sox. During this period, he hit four home runs and raised his OPS from .681 to .781. In early July, Quentin had a two-home run game against the Los Angeles Angels, followed shortly by back-to-back two-homer games on July 10 and 11 against the Kansas City Royals, including a grand slam in the second game. By the 2010 All-Star break, he was batting .244 with an .867 OPS, 19 home runs, and 61 RBIs, placing him among the American League leaders in both categories. He concluded the season hitting .243 with 26 home run and 87 RBIs in a career-high 131 games.
2.3.4. 2011
Quentin was selected to his second All-Star Game as a reserve after posting an .852 OPS in the first half of the season. On August 20, he sprained his left shoulder while making a diving catch, limiting him to only two more plate appearances for the remainder of the 2011 season. Quentin finished the year batting .254 with 24 home run and 77 RBIs. He also drew 34 walks, recorded a .499 slugging percentage, and achieved a career-high 31 doubles in 118 games. For the second time in his career, he led the Major Leagues in being hit by pitch, with 23.
2.4. San Diego Padres
On December 31, 2011, Quentin was traded from the White Sox to his hometown San Diego Padres in exchange for Simón Castro and Pedro Hernández.
2.4.1. 2012
Quentin began the 2012 season on the disabled list after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair a torn meniscus in March. He made his Padres debut on May 28, consistently batting in the clean-up position and playing left field or serving as a DH in interleague games. On July 22, 2012, Quentin signed a three-year, 27.00 M USD contract extension with the Padres through 2015, which included a 10.00 M USD mutual option for 2016 and a no-trade clause. Quentin expressed his enthusiasm for the deal, stating, "This is an amazing opportunity to stay and play in the city I grew up in."
His right knee continued to bother him in September, and he played in the field only once after September 10. Following the season, he underwent another arthroscopic surgery on the right knee. Quentin played in a total of 86 games, finishing the season batting .261 with a .374 OBP and a .504 SLG, along with 16 home run and 46 RBIs in 284 at-bats. Despite playing only half a season, he once again led the league in being hit by pitch, setting a Padres single-season record with 17.
2.4.2. 2013
Quentin was still recovering from his knee surgery as the 2013 season began, limiting him to just four games and 14 at-bats in spring training. The Padres initially restricted his playing time in the field to allow his knee to rest.
On April 11, in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Quentin was hit in the shoulder by a pitch thrown by Zack Greinke. Quentin immediately charged the mound, initiating a bench-clearing brawl that resulted in Greinke fracturing his collarbone. For his role in the incident, Quentin was suspended for eight games.
Quentin left a July 30 game early after tweaking his right knee during a swing. This ended up being his final game of the 2013 season, as he was placed on the disabled list on August 10. He later decided to undergo surgery to clean up the knee in preparation for the 2014 season, which he described as "the best of the three" surgeries he had undergone. For the season, Quentin batted .275 with 13 home run, 44 RBIs, and an .855 OPS in 82 games. This marked his sixth consecutive season with double-digit home runs, though it was his lowest home run total in such a season.
2.4.3. 2014
Quentin started the 2014 season on the disabled list while recovering from his previous knee surgery. He was activated on May 13. Upon his return, Quentin struggled significantly offensively, hitting just .177 through 50 games. He was placed on the disabled list on July 26 due to a sore knee. This injury effectively ended his season and his three-year tenure with the Padres. His final statistics for 2014 were a .177 batting average, 4 home run, and 18 RBIs in 50 games, all career lows, and his first season batting below .200.
2.5. Post-playing career and comeback attempts
Quentin's career with the Padres concluded in 2014, leading to a series of trades and comeback attempts before his final retirement.
On April 5, 2015, Quentin was traded to the Atlanta Braves along with Cameron Maybin, Matt Wisler, and Jordan Paroubeck, in exchange for Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton Jr.. However, the Braves designated him for assignment later that same day and released him on April 14.
Quentin signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners on April 22, 2015, and was assigned to the Tacoma Rainiers. However, on May 1, 2015, Quentin announced his retirement from professional baseball due to chronic pain in his left knee.
Despite his retirement, Quentin made several attempts to return to the game. On February 2, 2016, he came out of retirement and signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. He participated in spring training, hitting two home runs in 15 games, but on March 28, he requested and was granted his release from the Twins after declining an assignment to their minor league camp. On July 12, 2016, Quentin again came out of retirement to join the Mexican League, signing with the Pericos de Puebla, the league's top team, under manager Cory Snyder. In 21 games with Puebla, he hit .211 with a .305 OBP, .465 SLG, 5 home run, and 14 RBIs.
On February 8, 2017, Quentin signed another minor league deal, this time with the Boston Red Sox. He was released at the end of Spring Training on April 2. His final professional stint came on July 11, 2017, when he signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican Baseball League. He became a free agent following the 2017 season. In 13 games with Monclova, he hit .212 with a .350 OBP, .424 SLG, 2 home run, and 15 RBIs.
3. Major awards and records
Carlos Quentin received several significant individual accolades and set notable statistical achievements throughout his baseball career, particularly recognized for his offensive power and his unusual tendency to be hit by pitches.
3.1. All-Star selections
Quentin was selected to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game twice as a reserve outfielder:
- 2008
- 2011
3.2. Silver Slugger Award
In 2008, Carlos Quentin earned his first Silver Slugger Award as an American League outfielder. This award recognizes the best offensive player at each position in both the American and National Leagues, as voted by managers and coaches.
3.3. Hit by Pitch Records
Carlos Quentin is notable for his exceptional frequency of being hit by pitches throughout his career.
- In 2004, he set a minor league record by being hit by a pitch 43 times.
- In August 2008, he set a Major League record by being hit by a pitch in six consecutive games, a record that stood as of 2020, with no other player having been hit in more than five straight games.
- He led the Major Leagues in hit-by-pitches in 2011 with 23.
- In 2012, despite playing only 86 games, he led the league in hit-by-pitches again with 17, which also set a San Diego Padres single-season record.
4. Personal life
Carlos Quentin is married to Jeane Goff, who was an All-American track and field athlete during her time at Stanford University. The couple welcomed their first son, Clarke, in 2013.
5. Annual batting statistics
| Year | Team | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | RBI | SB | CS | SH | SF | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | GDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | ARI | 57 | 191 | 166 | 23 | 42 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 88 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 8 | 34 | 6 | .253 | .342 | .530 | .872 |
| 2007 | ARI | 81 | 263 | 229 | 29 | 49 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 80 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 1 | 11 | 54 | 5 | .214 | .298 | .349 | .647 |
| 2008 | CWS | 130 | 569 | 480 | 96 | 138 | 26 | 1 | 36 | 274 | 100 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 66 | 0 | 20 | 80 | 16 | .288 | .394 | .571 | .965 |
| 2009 | CWS | 99 | 399 | 351 | 47 | 83 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 160 | 56 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 31 | 2 | 15 | 52 | 11 | .236 | .323 | .456 | .779 |
| 2010 | CWS | 131 | 527 | 453 | 73 | 110 | 25 | 2 | 26 | 217 | 87 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 50 | 3 | 20 | 83 | 16 | .243 | .342 | .479 | .821 |
| 2011 | CWS | 118 | 483 | 421 | 53 | 107 | 31 | 0 | 24 | 210 | 77 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 34 | 0 | 23 | 84 | 7 | .254 | .340 | .499 | .838 |
| 2012 | SD | 86 | 340 | 284 | 44 | 74 | 21 | 0 | 16 | 143 | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 36 | 2 | 17 | 41 | 6 | .261 | .374 | .504 | .877 |
| 2013 | SD | 82 | 320 | 276 | 42 | 76 | 21 | 0 | 13 | 136 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 9 | 55 | 7 | .275 | .363 | .493 | .855 |
| 2014 | SD | 50 | 155 | 130 | 9 | 23 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 41 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 33 | 5 | .177 | .284 | .315 | .599 |
| MLB Total (9 years) | 834 | 3247 | 2790 | 416 | 702 | 173 | 6 | 154 | 1349 | 491 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 30 | 298 | 10 | 127 | 516 | 79 | .252 | .347 | .484 | .831 | |