1. Early Life and Background
José Guillermo Quintana was born on January 24, 1989, in Arjona, Colombia, in the Bolívar Department. He began his professional baseball journey at a young age, signing his first professional contract as an international free agent with the New York Mets in April 2006.
1.1. Early Career and Minor League Baseball
Quintana started his professional career in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League (VSL), pitching for the VSL Mets in 2006. His early career faced a setback in 2007 when he was suspended for 50 games due to a violation of Minor League Baseball's drug policy, leading to his release by the Mets on July 31 of that year.
He then signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on March 10, 2008. He spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League (DSL) with the DSL Yankees 2. In 2010, Quintana advanced to the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and the Charleston RiverDogs of the Class A South Atlantic League. His performance continued to improve, and in 2011, pitching for the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League (FSL), he posted a 10-2 win-loss record with a 2.91 earned run average (ERA), recording 88 strikeouts in 102 innings pitched. After the 2011 season, he became a minor league free agent.
2. Professional Career
José Quintana's professional career spans over a decade in Major League Baseball, marked by consistent performance as a starting pitcher, several team changes, and notable achievements, including an All-Star selection and reaching 100 career wins.
2.1. Chicago White Sox (2012-2017)
Following his stint in the Yankees organization, Chicago White Sox scouts Daraka Shaheed and Joe Siers, who had observed Quintana in the FSL, recommended his signing. Quintana joined the White Sox on November 10, 2011, receiving a major league contract. He was initially assigned to the Birmingham Barons of the Class AA Southern League.
Quintana made his MLB debut on May 7, 2012, when the White Sox promoted him to the majors as the 26th man for a doubleheader. In the first game, he pitched 5 2/3 innings in relief, allowing no runs, one hit, and two walks while striking out three. He was optioned back to Birmingham the next day, then promoted to the Charlotte Knights of the Class AAA International League on May 24. Just one day later, without pitching for the Knights, he was called up to Chicago again due to John Danks being placed on the IL. On May 25, Quintana earned his first Major League victory in a 9-3 win over the Cleveland Indians, pitching six innings, yielding two runs on four hits, walking three, and striking out four. On May 30, 2012, he was ejected from a game against the Tampa Bay Rays by umpire Mark Wegner after throwing a pitch behind Ben Zobrist. For the 2012 season, Quintana appeared in 25 games, making 22 starts, with a 6-6 record and a 3.76 ERA.
In 2013, Quintana established himself in the White Sox's starting rotation, pitching 200 innings across 33 starts. He finished with a 9-7 record, 164 strikeouts, and a 3.51 ERA. Notably, his 17 no decisions were the most among MLB starting pitchers that season. On March 24, 2014, Quintana signed a five-year contract extension with the White Sox, which included club options for an additional two years. As a "Super 2" arbitration-eligible player after the 2014 season, his contract was guaranteed for 26.50 M USD. In 2014, he made 32 starts, going 9-11 with 178 strikeouts and a 3.32 ERA in 200 1/3 innings. His low home run rate of 0.45 per nine innings was the second-best in the American League. He continued his consistent performance in 2015, pitching 206 1/3 innings over 32 starts, with a 3.36 ERA and a 9-10 record, recording 177 strikeouts. That season, he led all major league pitchers in curveball percentage (30.9%).
The 2016 season marked a significant milestone for Quintana. Through the All-Star break, he held a 7-8 record with a 3.21 ERA in 117 2/3 innings. He was named to the MLB All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Danny Salazar. He concluded the season with a 13-12 record, a 3.20 ERA, and 181 strikeouts over 32 starts, his first time achieving double-digit wins. Quintana finished tied for tenth in the voting for the American League Cy Young Award, receiving one fifth-place vote. The White Sox named him their Opening Day starting pitcher for the 2017 season.
2.2. Chicago Cubs (2017-2020)
On July 13, 2017, Quintana was traded by the White Sox to the Chicago Cubs in a blockbuster deal for prospects Eloy Jiménez, Dylan Cease, Matt Rose, and Bryant Flete. He made his first start for the Cubs on July 16, striking out 12 batters in an 8-0 victory against the Baltimore Orioles. While he struggled in August, allowing six home runs in 33 innings and six runs in two starts, he rebounded with a 2.51 ERA in five starts in September. Between both teams in 2017, he finished with an 11-11 record and a 4.15 ERA.
In 2018, Quintana made 32 starts for the Cubs, achieving a 13-11 record with a 4.03 ERA. He started the 2018 National League Central tie-breaker game, also known as Game 163, where the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Cubs. After the season, the Cubs exercised their 10.50 M USD contract option on Quintana for the 2019 season.
Quintana had a strong month in August 2019, posting a 4-1 record with a 2.02 ERA. He finished the 2019 season with a 13-9 record and a 4.68 ERA. In July 2020, Quintana underwent surgery to repair a lacerated nerve on his throwing thumb, an injury he sustained while washing dishes. He pitched only 10 innings during the shortened 2020 season, recording a 4.50 ERA. He became a free agent on October 28, 2020.
2.3. Los Angeles Angels (2021)
On January 22, 2021, Quintana signed a one-year, 8.00 M USD contract with the Los Angeles Angels. On May 31, he was placed on the 10-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation. He was activated on June 21 and returned to play the next day against the San Francisco Giants, transitioning to a bullpen role. Quintana struggled during his time with the Angels, posting an 0-3 record with a 6.75 ERA and 73 strikeouts across 24 appearances.
2.4. San Francisco Giants (2021)
On August 30, 2021, Quintana was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants. He made five appearances for the Giants, recording a 4.66 ERA with 12 strikeouts. On September 30, he was designated for assignment, and on October 15, Quintana elected free agency.
2.5. Pittsburgh Pirates (2022)
On November 29, 2021, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Quintana to a one-year, 2.00 M USD contract. After four no-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 the Los Angeles Dodgers and striking out five. He followed this with seven scoreless innings in his next game against the Cincinnati Reds, but received another no-decision as his team failed to score. For May, he compiled a 2.00 ERA in 27 innings, striking out 21, and finishing the month with a 1-1 record.
After a challenging June where he had a 4.80 ERA and an 0-2 record in six starts, Quintana improved in July, compiling a 3.67 ERA and a 2-1 record. He earned victories against the New York Yankees on July 5 and the Miami Marlins on July 23, tossing seven scoreless innings and striking out four in the latter game.
2.6. St. Louis Cardinals (2022)
On July 29, the Pirates traded Quintana and Chris Stratton to the St. Louis Cardinals for Malcom Núñez and Johan Oviedo. At the time of the trade, Quintana had a 3.50 ERA for the season. He debuted for the Cardinals on August 4 in the second game of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium, pitching six innings of one-run baseball and striking out seven, though he was charged with a no-decision. He earned his first win with the team in his next start against the Colorado Rockies. He concluded August with a 3.38 ERA, a 1-1 record, and 20 strikeouts in 29 innings. In September, Quintana secured a win against the Washington Nationals on September 6 and followed it with eight scoreless innings and six strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds on September 17. He was particularly dominant in September, recording a 0.89 ERA in five starts, pitching 30 innings, striking out 28 while walking just three, and allowing only three earned runs.
For the 2022 season, Quintana finished with a career-best 2.93 ERA in 165 2/3 total innings pitched, striking out 137 in 32 games, all of which were starts. Quintana started Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. In that game, he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out three and walking one, but was charged with another no-decision as the Phillies' starting pitcher, Zack Wheeler, also held the Cardinals scoreless.
2.7. New York Mets (2023-present)
On December 9, 2022, Quintana signed a two-year, 26.00 M USD contract with the New York Mets, returning to the organization that originally signed him. However, just 1 2/3 innings into spring training, he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his rib cage. This injury forced him to withdraw from the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he was expected to lead the Colombia national baseball team's pitching staff. The Mets later announced that additional testing revealed a benign lesion on his rib, requiring surgery that would keep him out until at least July.
On June 13, 2023, Quintana began a rehabilitation assignment with the Low-A St. Lucie Mets. He was activated from the injured list on July 14 and made his season debut on July 20 against the Chicago White Sox, striking out three batters while allowing no walks, two runs, and six hits in five innings. Quintana made 13 starts for the Mets in 2023, posting a 3-6 record, a 3.57 ERA, and 60 strikeouts across 75 2/3 innings pitched.
Quintana was named the Mets' Opening Day starting pitcher for the 2024 season. On September 7, 2024, he recorded his 100th career win against the Cincinnati Reds, striking out six in 6 2/3 shutout innings. This achievement made him the first Colombian-born pitcher to reach 100 wins in MLB, and it contributed to the Mets' ninth consecutive victory. Quintana concluded his 2024 campaign with a 10-10 record, a 3.75 ERA, and 135 strikeouts in 170 1/3 innings. He had a strong September, going 3-1 with a 0.73 ERA for the month, despite a loss against the Milwaukee Brewers on September 28.
In the 2024 NL Wild Card Series against the Brewers, Quintana was slated to start the decisive Game 3. He pitched six scoreless innings, striking out five and walking one, engaging in a pitching duel with rookie Tobias Myers, who also blanked the Mets. Quintana received a no-decision, but the Mets ultimately advanced after a ninth-inning rally, winning 4-2. In the 2024 MLB postseason, Quintana made three starts for the Mets, posting a 3.14 ERA and 14 1/3 innings pitched.
3. Player Characteristics and Pitching Style
José Quintana is a left-handed pitcher known for his overhand delivery and stable control. His pitching repertoire primarily features a fastball (both four-seam and two-seam), a curveball, and a changeup. His fastball velocity typically averages around 92 mph, with a maximum recorded speed of 96.1 mph. During the 2017 World Baseball Classic, his fastball was clocked at 98 mph. His curveball averages about 79 mph, and his changeup averages around 86 mph. Quintana maintains consistent control, with a career walk rate of 2.5. He is also known by the nicknames Q and Lelo.
4. International Career
Quintana has proudly represented the Colombia national baseball team in international competitions. He pitched for Colombia in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He was also expected to lead Colombia's pitching staff in the 2023 World Baseball Classic but was forced to withdraw due to a stress fracture in his rib cage sustained during spring training with the Mets. Quintana was named to the Colombian roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic qualifiers, scheduled for March 2025 in Tucson, Arizona.
5. Personal Life
José Quintana is married to Michel, and they have two daughters. The family resides in the Miami area. During the 2017 Major League Baseball postseason, a chartered flight for the Cubs had to be diverted to Albuquerque when Quintana's wife fell ill, though she recovered, and he still made his scheduled start in the team's next game. In 2024, Quintana became an American citizen.
6. Career Statistics and Awards
This section provides a detailed overview of José Quintana's performance throughout his professional baseball career, including yearly pitching and fielding statistics, major awards, and significant milestones.
6.1. Yearly Statistics
| Year | Team | GP | GS | CG | SHO | SV | W | L | WPCT | BF | IP | H | HR | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | BK | WP | R | ER | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | CWS | 25 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | .500 | 568 | 136.1 | 142 | 14 | 42 | 4 | 3 | 81 | 2 | 10 | 62 | 57 | 3.76 | 1.35 |
| 2013 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 7 | .563 | 832 | 200.0 | 188 | 23 | 56 | 2 | 5 | 164 | 1 | 2 | 83 | 78 | 3.51 | 1.22 | |
| 2014 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 11 | .450 | 830 | 200 1/3 | 197 | 10 | 52 | 3 | 2 | 178 | 2 | 0 | 87 | 74 | 3.32 | 1.24 | |
| 2015 | 32 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 10 | .474 | 862 | 206 1/3 | 218 | 16 | 44 | 4 | 8 | 177 | 0 | 5 | 81 | 77 | 3.36 | 1.27 | |
| 2016 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 12 | .520 | 837 | 208.0 | 192 | 22 | 50 | 1 | 4 | 181 | 1 | 10 | 76 | 74 | 3.20 | 1.16 | |
| 2017 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | .333 | 444 | 104 1/3 | 98 | 14 | 40 | 1 | 2 | 109 | 1 | 7 | 55 | 52 | 4.49 | 1.32 | |
| CHC | 14 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | .700 | 346 | 84 1/3 | 72 | 9 | 21 | 3 | 8 | 98 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 35 | 3.74 | 1.10 | |
| 2017 Total | 32 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 11 | .500 | 790 | 188.2 | 170 | 23 | 61 | 4 | 10 | 207 | 1 | 8 | 92 | 87 | 4.15 | 1.22 | |
| 2018 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 11 | .542 | 739 | 174.1 | 162 | 25 | 68 | 3 | 3 | 158 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 78 | 4.03 | 1.32 | |
| 2019 | 32 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 9 | .591 | 745 | 171.0 | 191 | 20 | 46 | 0 | 2 | 152 | 0 | 11 | 100 | 89 | 4.68 | 1.39 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 41 | 10.0 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4.50 | 1.30 | |
| 2021 | LAA | 24 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 254 | 53.1 | 66 | 9 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 73 | 0 | 5 | 45 | 40 | 6.75 | 1.78 |
| SF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 43 | 9.2 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4.66 | 1.45 | |
| 2021 Total | 29 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 297 | 63.0 | 74 | 12 | 35 | 1 | 1 | 85 | 1 | 7 | 50 | 45 | 6.43 | 1.73 | |
| 2022 | PIT | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | .375 | 432 | 103.0 | 100 | 7 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 89 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 40 | 3.50 | 1.27 |
| STL | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | .600 | 247 | 62.2 | 54 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 14 | 2.01 | 1.12 | |
| 2022 Total | 32 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | .462 | 679 | 165 2/3 | 154 | 8 | 47 | 1 | 3 | 137 | 0 | 1 | 61 | 54 | 2.93 | 1.21 | |
| 2023 | NYM | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | .333 | 319 | 75 2/3 | 75 | 5 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 60 | 0 | 2 | 33 | 30 | 3.57 | 1.31 |
| 2024 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | .500 | 717 | 170 1/3 | 150 | 22 | 63 | 0 | 11 | 135 | 0 | 7 | 73 | 71 | 3.75 | 1.25 | |
| MLB Career (13 years) | 359 | 333 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 102 | 103 | .498 | 8256 | 1969.2 | 1923 | 201 | 591 | 23 | 53 | 1727 | 6 | 74 | 884 | 819 | 3.74 | 1.28 | |
- Statistics as of the end of the 2024 season.
| Year | Team | Pitcher (P) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | PO | A | E | DP | FPCT | ||
| 2012 | CWS | 25 | 7 | 21 | 1 | 2 | .966 |
| 2013 | 33 | 4 | 23 | 2 | 1 | .931 | |
| 2014 | 32 | 4 | 25 | 0 | 6 | 1.000 | |
| 2015 | 32 | 2 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | |
| 2016 | 32 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 3 | .955 | |
| 2017 | 18 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | |
| CHC | 14 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 1 | .941 | |
| 2017 Total | 32 | 6 | 23 | 1 | 2 | .967 | |
| 2018 | 32 | 13 | 19 | 1 | 2 | .970 | |
| 2019 | 32 | 15 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2021 | LAA | 24 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | .875 |
| SF | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2021 Total | 29 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | .917 | |
| 2022 | PIT | 20 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| STL | 12 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2022 Total | 32 | 4 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2023 | NYM | 13 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 |
| 2024 | 31 | 13 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | |
| MLB Career | 359 | 78 | 235 | 7 | 20 | .978 | |
- Statistics as of the end of the 2024 season.
- Bolded values indicate league leader.
6.2. Awards and Honors
- MLB All-Star (2016)
- First Colombian-born pitcher to achieve 100 career MLB wins (2024)
6.3. Jersey Numbers
- 62 (2012-2021, 2022-present)
- 63 (2021, 2022)