José Quintana Bio
José Guillermo Quintana is a Colombian-American professional baseball pitcher whose major league career began in 2012 and has spanned multiple organizations. He has made contributions as a starter and reliever for several clubs and is known for a durable repertoire highlighted by an advanced breaking ball.
Early Life and Background
José Guillermo Quintana was born on January 24, 1989, in Colombia. Details on his childhood and specific hometown are not provided in the verified inputs, but his early life included signing as an international free agent and beginning a professional baseball path that led him to the United States.
Quintana developed as a pitcher within Latin American and minor league systems before reaching Major League Baseball. He signed with the New York Mets as an international free agent and later pitched in the New York Yankees organization, advancing through rookie and Class A levels prior to becoming a free agent after the 2011 season.
Path to Baseball
Quintana’s professional journey started in the Venezuelan Summer League with the VSL Mets in 2006 and continued with stops in the Dominican Summer League and the Gulf Coast League. He posted strong results in Class A-Advanced with the Tampa Yankees in 2011, going 10–2 with a 2.91 earned run average, which helped make him an attractive signing candidate for major league clubs.
After becoming a minor league free agent following 2011, Quintana received a major league contract from the Chicago White Sox and was assigned to their double‑A club. That move established the immediate pathway for his major league debut and the start of a consistent big league career.
Path to Baseball
Quintana’s work through the minor leagues and subsequent signing by the Chicago White Sox were the decisive steps that transitioned him from prospect status to a major league pitcher. Development in the White Sox farm system, including time at triple‑A, prepared him for an early promotion and his major league debut in 2012.
José Quintana Career
Early Career (2012–2015)
Quintana made his Major League debut with the Chicago White Sox in 2012 after beginning the season in the organization’s minor league system. He earned his first major league victory on May 25, 2012, and finished his debut season appearing in 25 games with 22 starts and a 3.76 ERA.
From 2013 through 2015, Quintana established himself as a reliable rotation option. He pitched 200 innings in 2013, finishing 9–7 with a 3.51 ERA, and followed with back‑to‑back seasons of more than 200 innings in 2014 and 2015, demonstrating stamina and a low walk rate while increasing his strikeout totals.
Chicago White Sox Breakthrough (2012–2017)
Signed to a multi‑year extension in March 2014, Quintana became a fixture in the White Sox rotation and qualified as a Super Two arbitration player, making his contract guarantee significant. He led major league pitchers in curveball usage in 2015, employing the pitch as a central weapon in his arsenal.
Quintana was named the White Sox Opening Day starter in 2017 and compiled consistent innings and strikeout totals through his tenure. His 2016 season earned All‑Star recognition when he was named to the American League All‑Star Game as an injury replacement and he finished that year with a 13–12 record and a 3.20 ERA.
Chicago Cubs Tenure (2017–2020)
In July 2017, the Chicago White Sox traded Quintana to the Chicago Cubs. He made an immediate impact for the Cubs, recording a 12‑strikeout performance in his first start for Chicago and finishing 2017 with an 11–11 mark across both clubs.
Quintana continued with the Cubs through 2020, contributing as a rotation starter, including a 13–11 record in 2018 and starting Game 163 of that season. He experienced injury setbacks in 2020, including surgery to repair a lacerated nerve on his throwing‑arm thumb, which limited his availability.
Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants (2021)
Quintana signed with the Los Angeles Angels for the 2021 season but struggled in his appearances and spent time on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. Later that same year he was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants and made several appearances before electing free agency after the season.
Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals (2022)
Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates for 2022, Quintana produced effective stretches, recording multiple scoreless outings and a strong month of May. The Pirates traded him midseason to the St. Louis Cardinals, where Quintana posted a stretch of dominant September starts and finished 2022 with a career‑best 2.93 ERA across 165 2/3 innings and 137 strikeouts.
Quintana started Game 1 of the Cardinals’ Wild Card Series in 2022 and delivered five-plus scoreless innings in that postseason appearance, demonstrating the rotation role he had established that season.
New York Mets Era (2023–2024)
Quintana signed a two‑year contract with the New York Mets prior to the 2023 season but dealt with a rib stress fracture and related surgery that delayed his return until July. Once activated, he made multiple starts for the Mets and resumed a steady role in the rotation.
In 2024 Quintana opened on the Mets’ Opening Day and recorded his 100th career win on September 7, 2024, becoming the first Colombian‑born pitcher to reach that milestone. He contributed through the postseason with quality starts and appeared in three playoff games for the Mets that year.
Milwaukee Brewers Era (2025–Present)
Quintana signed a one‑year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers for the 2025 season. He began the season with an outstanding April and on April 11 recorded a win that made him one of the pitchers to have earned victories against all 30 major league teams, a milestone achieved by a limited group of active starters.
Across the 2025 regular season, Quintana delivered solid results, compiling an 11–7 record with a 3.96 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings. He made postseason appearances for the Brewers and was a part of the club’s October roster before his contract status returned him to free agency following the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Quintana’s arsenal centers on a firm fastball and an advanced curveball, the latter of which he led the major leagues in usage of during the 2015 season. He relies on pitch sequencing, command and the ability to work deep into starts, pairing a dependable breaking pitch with sink and tempo to induce weak contact.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Quintana’s career include an MLB All‑Star selection in 2016, recording his 100th career win in 2024, and joining a small group of pitchers who have earned victories against all 30 MLB teams during his 2025 tenure with Milwaukee. He has also been a postseason starter and contributor for multiple clubs.
José Quintana Career Wins
Quintana’s verified wins and milestones span a long major league tenure that includes double‑figure win seasons, postseason starts and achievement of his 100th career victory. His career includes extended seasons of high innings totals and sustained performance as a rotation regular.
MLB Highlights
Among verified MLB highlights are Quintana’s All‑Star selection in 2016, multiple seasons with more than 200 innings pitched in the mid‑2010s while a member of the Chicago White Sox, and his 100th career win with the New York Mets in 2024. His 2022 season with the St. Louis Cardinals yielded a career‑best 2.93 ERA.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Quintana’s career includes notable starts against division rivals, several multi‑strikeout outings, and sustained late‑season effectiveness that aided teams into playoff contention. He has represented Colombia internationally and has been named to national rosters for qualifying events.
José Quintana Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
There is no verified public record in the provided inputs of a familial baseball lineage. Quintana’s background is rooted in his Colombian upbringing and development through international signing and the U.S. minor league system.
Personal Life
Quintana is married to his wife, Michel, and the couple resides in the Miami, Florida area. Public reports indicate they have two daughters. Quintana completed the naturalization process and is described in available records as Colombian‑American.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season with the Milwaukee Brewers featured a strong April performance from Quintana, who won his first four starts and posted a sub‑1.20 ERA for the month. Over the full regular season he compiled an 11–7 record with a 3.96 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings while also making key postseason appearances.
Quintana’s April milestone of having earned a win against all 30 MLB clubs highlighted his veteran status. Late‑season injury placed him on the injured list in September, which ended his regular season, but he returned to contribute in the postseason before his contract made him a free agent following 2025.