José Gregada Quijada Bio
José Gregorio Quijada is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball. Quijada made his Major League Baseball debut in 2019 and spent multiple seasons with the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Angels before signing in Japan in December 2025.
Early Life and Background
José Gregorio Quijada was born on November 9, 1995, and is of Venezuelan nationality. Public records and team reports identify him by his full name and national origin; specific details about his hometown, parents, or early schooling are not part of the public record provided here.
Quijada began his professional journey as an international prospect when he signed with the Miami Marlins as an international free agent on September 9, 2013. He entered professional baseball through the Marlins organization and began to build a record in their developmental system the following year.
Path to Baseball
Quijada progressed through the Miami Marlins minor league ladder from his professional debut in 2014. He debuted with the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League Marlins in 2014, then made appearances for the Gulf Coast League Marlins in 2015. Over the next several seasons he moved through Class A, Class A-Advanced and Double-A affiliates as part of his advancement toward the major leagues.
His steady work in the minors earned him a spot on the Miami Marlins 40-man roster following the 2018 season, positioning him for a major league promotion in 2019. That progression from international signee to 40-man roster member reflects the standard ladder for Latin American pitchers who reach the major leagues.
José Gregorio Quijada Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
Quijada made his professional debut in 2014 with the Dominican Summer League Marlins, finishing that season 5–5 with a 2.91 ERA across 74 innings. In 2015 he appeared for the Gulf Coast League Marlins, registering scoreless innings in limited duty, and continued to advance through the Miami system over the next three seasons.
In 2016 he split time between the Class A Greensboro Grasshoppers and the Class A-Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads, combining for a 5–2 record and a 2.32 ERA over 50 innings. Quijada spent 2017 between Jupiter and the Double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, compiling a 5–1 record with a 3.23 ERA in 55.2 innings, then split 2018 between Jacksonville and Triple-A New Orleans, where he posted a 2–6 record with a 3.00 ERA in 62.1 innings.
Miami Marlins Breakthrough (2019)
Quijada opened 2019 at Triple-A New Orleans and was promoted to the Miami Marlins major league roster on April 23, 2019. He made his major league debut on April 24, 2019, pitching two-thirds of an inning in relief. His first major league decision came on May 8, 2019, when he took the loss after allowing a walk-off solo home run in extra innings.
After an initial stint in the majors Quijada was optioned back to New Orleans three days after his first decision. The Marlins designated him for assignment on February 3, 2020, a roster move that preceded his departure from the organization.
Los Angeles Angels Era (2020–2025)
The Los Angeles Angels claimed José Gregorio Quijada off waivers on February 10, 2020, bringing him into their bullpen plans. During the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign he appeared in limited action and surrendered a walk-off grand slam to Charlie Blackmon on September 11, 2020. That season Quijada logged a small sample of innings at the major league level.
Quijada moved between Triple-A and the major league roster with the Angels in subsequent seasons. In 2021 he made 26 major league appearances, posting an 0–2 record with a 4.56 ERA across 25.2 innings. In 2022 he appeared in 42 games for the Angels, registering a 3.98 ERA with 52 strikeouts and three saves in 40.2 innings. The 2023 season began with Quijada converting multiple late-inning appearances and recording four saves before being placed on the injured list on April 29, 2023.
On May 3, 2023, it was announced that Quijada required Tommy John surgery, ending his 2023 season. He returned from the injured list on July 22, 2024, and in that comeback year made 22 appearances for the Angels, compiling a 2–2 record and a 3.26 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 19.1 innings. Roster moves in 2025 included designation for assignment on March 25, clearing waivers and an outright assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake on March 30, and later an eventual recall and subsequent roster changes through the summer of 2025.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows Era (2026–Present)
After electing free agency on October 3, 2025, José Gregorio Quijada signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball on December 19, 2025. He joined the Swallows as an international signing ahead of the 2026 season and made appearances for the team through May 30, 2026.
Through May 30, 2026, Quijada had recorded a 1–1 win–loss mark with a 0.90 earned run average and 28 strikeouts in NPB play. That early run in Japan reflects a strong initial adjustment to Nippon Professional Baseball competition.
Driving Style and Strengths
Quijada’s professional record highlights his role as a relief pitcher with strikeout capability. His career totals through the 2025 MLB season included 175 strikeouts, and his usage across late-inning situations has produced multiple saves at the major league level and high-leverage outings for the Angels.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Quijada’s career include his major league debut on April 24, 2019, the first decision on May 8, 2019, his September 11, 2020 walk-off grand slam surrender, the three-strikeout relief appearance on October 1, 2021 that preserved a late-game win, and the Tommy John surgery announcement on May 3, 2023. His signing with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows on December 19, 2025 marks his move to international club competition in Japan.
José Gregorio Quijada Career Wins
As a professional pitcher Quijada’s verified major league win–loss record through the 2025 season stands at 4–14 with a 4.59 earned run average and 175 strikeouts. In Nippon Professional Baseball through May 30, 2026 he recorded a 1–1 mark with a 0.90 ERA and 28 strikeouts.
MLB Highlights
Quijada’s MLB highlights include his debut with the Miami Marlins in April 2019, a body of relief work with the Los Angeles Angels that produced multiple saves in 2022 and appearances in high-leverage roles, and career totals through 2025 that reflect innings across several seasons at the major league level. His first major league decision occurred in May 2019 and his best single-season strikeout production to date occurred during his time in the Angels’ bullpen.
NPB Highlights
In his first months with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows Quijada posted an earned run average below 1.00 and recorded a win while contributing 28 strikeouts through May 30, 2026. That start to his NPB tenure represents a noteworthy initial adjustment to Japanese professional baseball.
Other Wins & Perfromances
At the minor league level Quijada compiled several effective seasons that helped propel him to the majors, including a 2014 Rookie-level DSL campaign at 5–5 with a 2.91 ERA, a 2016 combined 5–2 record and 2.32 ERA across Class A levels, and solid work in Double-A and Triple-A before his major league promotion in 2019. He also logged solid relief numbers in 2024 after returning from surgery.
José Gregorio Quijada Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public profiles and team releases for José Gregorio Quijada do not provide detailed information about his family background or any sporting lineage. No verifiable family or parental details are included in the sources available for this profile.
Personal Life
Details regarding marital status, spouse, or children for José Gregorio Quijada are not part of the verified public record used to construct this profile. Personal and residential information has been omitted where not publicly documented.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 season Quijada experienced significant roster movement. He was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels on March 25, 2025, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake on March 30, 2025, and spent time with the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas where he posted a 2–1 record with a 2.73 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 26.1 innings. The Angels selected his contract and added him back to the active roster on July 24, 2025, and he made two scoreless appearances before being designated for assignment again on July 30, 2025, and subsequently outrighted on August 4.
Quijada elected free agency on October 3, 2025, and signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows on December 19, 2025, setting the stage for his move to Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2026 season and beyond.