José Ureña

José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez Bio

José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who has built a lengthy career across Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball. Born in the Dominican Republic on September 12, 1991, Ureña signed with the Florida Marlins as an international free agent in 2009 and made his MLB debut in 2015. Over his MLB career spanning from 2015 to 2025, he established himself as a versatile pitcher capable of both starting and relieving roles. In 2025, Ureña achieved a notable milestone by tying the major league record for most franchises played for in a single season, appearing with five different teams. His career has been characterized by a overpowering fastball that can reach the mid-90s, though he has faced challenges with control throughout his professional journey.

Early Life and Background

Ureña grew up in the Dominican Republic, a country renowned for producing elite baseball talent. The Dominican Republic has a rich baseball culture, providing aspiring players with numerous opportunities to develop their skills through organized leagues and training programs. Young pitchers in the region often receive instruction from former professional players and dedicated coaches who help them refine their mechanics and approach to the game.

On August 28, 2009, Ureña signed with the Florida Marlins organization as an international free agent. This signing marked the beginning of his professional baseball career and set him on a path toward Major League Baseball. At the time of his signing, scouts recognized his potential, noting his above-average fastball and projectable frame that suggested room for physical development as he matured.

Path to Professional Baseball

Upon joining the Marlins organization, Ureña spent his first two professional seasons in the Dominican Summer League, where he honed his fundamentals against competition from other developmental prospects. The Dominican Summer League provides young international players with their first exposure to organized baseball, offering a crucial stepping stone between amateur play and full-season professional leagues.

In 2011, Ureña advanced to Low-A ball with the Jamestown Jammers, where he posted a 4.33 earned run average in 15 starts. The following year, he climbed to full-season Single-A with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, recording a 3.38 earned run average over 138 and one-third innings pitched. This steady progression through the minors demonstrated his ability to adapt to increasingly competitive environments and refine his craft at each level.

The 2014 season marked a significant breakthrough for Ureña in the minor leagues. He finished with a 13-8 record, 121 strikeouts, and a 3.33 earned run average across 162 innings pitched. These impressive statistics caught the attention of Marlins management and scouts league-wide, establishing him as a legitimate major league prospect worthy of continued development and eventual promotion.

José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez Career

Early Career (2015-2017)

Ureña began the 2015 season with the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, continuing his development in the minors. He received his first major league call-up on April 13, 2015, replacing David Phelps on the roster. His first major league start came on May 26, 2015, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he allowed five runs in four and two-thirds innings and took the loss. Ureña finished his rookie season with a 1-5 record and a 5.25 earned run average in 20 games, including nine starts.

In 2016, Ureña split time between starting and relief roles with the Marlins, ending the season with a 4-9 record and a 6.13 earned run average in 28 games, including 12 starts. The following year brought significant improvement as he appeared in 34 games with 28 starts, compiling a 14-7 record and a 3.82 earned run average. That season, he also led the major leagues by hitting 14 batters with pitches, highlighting both his competitive intensity and the control challenges that would persist throughout his career.

Miami Marlins Breakthrough (2017-2020)

Ureña earned recognition as the Marlins’ Opening Day starter for the 2018 season, reflecting his importance to the organization. On Opening Day, March 29 against the Chicago Cubs, he surrendered five runs over four innings in an 8-4 loss. Later that season, on August 15 against the Atlanta Braves, he was ejected after hitting Ronald Acuña Jr. with the first pitch, an incident that led both teams’ benches to clear and resulted in a six-game suspension.

Despite the controversy, Ureña bounced back strongly. In his very next start, he threw a complete game against the Washington Nationals, allowing one run on two hits while striking out four batters. He finished 2018 by winning six of his final seven starts with a remarkable 1.80 earned run average over that span. By posting a 3.82 earned run average in 2017 and a 3.98 earned run average in 2018, Ureña became only the sixth pitcher in Marlins history to record consecutive sub-4.00 earned run average seasons, joining elite company in Pat Rapp, Kevin Brown, Dontrelle Willis, Josh Johnson, and Aníbal Sánchez.

In 2019, Ureña became the eighth pitcher in Marlins history to make consecutive Opening Day starts. After an 0-3 start to the season, he posted eight quality starts over his next nine outings, going 4-3 with a 2.95 earned run average in that span. On June 7, 2019, he was placed on the injured list with a herniated disc in his lower back. Following the 2020 season, the Marlins designated Ureña for assignment on November 30 and non-tendered him on December 2, making him a free agent.

Detroit Tigers (2021)

On December 23, 2020, Ureña signed a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. He earned a spot in the Tigers’ starting rotation to begin the 2021 season. After three losses to start the season, Ureña earned his first victory as a Tiger on April 27, allowing one earned run in seven innings as the Tigers defeated the Chicago White Sox 5-2. On May 2, 2021, he became the first Tiger pitcher since David Price in 2015 to have four consecutive starts of at least seven innings while allowing two runs or fewer in every start. He was placed on the injured list with a groin strain on June 17 and returned to make a start on August 28. Ureña pitched in 26 games, including 18 starts, for the 2021 Tigers, compiling a 4-8 record with a 5.81 earned run average.

Milwaukee Brewers (2022)

On March 29, 2022, Ureña signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. The following day, he had his contract selected to the 40-man and active rosters. He pitched to a 3.52 earned run average with three strikeouts in four relief appearances for Milwaukee before being designated for assignment on May 2. He elected free agency on May 10, 2022.

Colorado Rockies (2022-2023)

On May 13, 2022, Ureña signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies organization. On July 6, he was called up to the majors. In 17 starts for Colorado, Ureña worked to a 3-8 record and 5.14 earned run average with 60 strikeouts in 89 and one-third innings pitched. On November 11, 2022, he re-signed with Colorado on a one-year, $3 million contract with a 2024 club option. In five starts for the Rockies in 2023, he struggled to an 0-4 record and 9.82 earned run average with nine strikeouts in 18 and one-third innings of work. He was designated for assignment on April 25, 2023, and released on April 27.

Chicago White Sox (2023)

On May 3, 2023, Ureña signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals organization, making 15 starts for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings with a 6.31 earned run average and 56 strikeouts in 67 innings. He was released by Washington on August 3. On August 8, he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox organization. After four starts for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, the White Sox purchased Ureña’s contract to the major league roster on September 9. In five starts with Chicago, he went 0-3 with a 4.10 earned run average with 20 strikeouts in 26 and one-third innings pitched, logging two quality starts. He became a free agent on November 2, 2023.

Texas Rangers (2024)

On January 16, 2024, Ureña signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. On March 26, it was announced that he had made Texas’ Opening Day roster. Beginning the year in the bullpen, his first five appearances spanned 9.1 scoreless innings mostly working in middle relief. After making 10 appearances as a reliever, Ureña was moved into the starting rotation on May 7 against the Oakland Athletics, earning the win after giving up one earned run and striking out two in five innings. On June 5, he took a perfect game into the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers before giving up a home run to Justyn-Henry Malloy. He finished that game with the win after striking out six in 6.2 innings pitched. On June 23, Ureña earned his first save of the season after tossing four scoreless innings against the Kansas City Royals. On August 19, he became the first Rangers pitcher since Pat Mahomes Sr. to have three relief appearances of four or more scoreless innings in the same season. Ureña finished the season as one of only 12 players in the league to have both a quality start and a save, totaling a 5-8 record with a 3.80 earned run average in 109 innings of work. He became a free agent on October 31, 2024.

2025 MLB Season: Record-Breaking Campaign

The 2025 season became a historic chapter in Ureña’s career. On February 27, 2025, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets and was assigned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, where he posted a 2.89 earned run average with eight strikeouts over three starts. On April 27, the Mets selected his contract, adding him to their active roster. He made his season debut on April 28 and earned a save despite allowing five earned runs in three innings. He was designated for assignment by the Mets the following day and elected free agency after clearing waivers on May 1.

On May 5, 2025, Ureña signed a one-year major league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. In six appearances for Toronto, he recorded a 3.65 earned run average with five strikeouts across 12 and one-third innings pitched. On May 31, he was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays and cleared waivers on June 2.

On June 3, 2025, Ureña signed a major league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk with two strikeouts in three innings pitched over two appearances. He was designated for assignment by Los Angeles on June 10 and elected free agency after clearing waivers on June 13.

On June 24, 2025, Ureña signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. In six appearances, including four starts, for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints, he logged an 0-1 record and 4.05 earned run average with 13 strikeouts across 13 and one-third innings pitched. On August 1, the Twins selected his contract. In his first game for the Twins, Ureña pitched four innings with two earned runs in an eventual win against the Cleveland Guardians. In four appearances for Minnesota, he logged an 0-1 record and 4.58 earned run average with 10 strikeouts across 17 and two-thirds innings pitched. He was designated for assignment on August 23 and elected free agency after clearing waivers on August 25.

On August 31, 2025, Ureña signed a major league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. On September 5, he made his debut for the Angels in a 10-4 loss to the Athletics, tying the major league record for the most franchises played for in a single season with five. This achievement placed him alongside Mike Baumann (2024), Oliver Drake (2018), and Bobo Leonard (1924) in the record books. In six appearances for Los Angeles, Ureña recorded a 3.79 earned run average with 14 strikeouts over 19 innings of work.

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (2026-Present)

On January 14, 2026, Ureña signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. This move represented a new chapter in his career, taking his talents to one of baseball’s premier professional leagues outside of North America. Through May 14, 2026, he had compiled a 2-2 record with a 3.35 earned run average and 28 strikeouts in NPB action.

Driving Style and Pitching Approach

Ureña’s pitching arsenal centers around a overpowering fastball that has consistently touched the mid-90s throughout his career. According to scouting reports, his four-seam and sinking two-seam fastballs each average approximately 95 miles per hour, with his fastball topping out at 99 miles per hour. This elite velocity gives hitters little time to react and makes his heater particularly effective when located properly in the strike zone. His secondary offerings include a slurve that sits between 84 and 88 miles per hour and a changeup thrown at approximately 89 miles per hour, providing him with a diverse mix to keep hitters off balance.

Throughout his career, Ureña has experienced challenges with command, occasionally missing his spots and hitting batters at a higher rate than ideal. ESPN writers noted his history of control problems, particularly highlighting that he hit 14 batters in 2017, tying for the major league lead in that category. Despite these challenges, his ability to miss bats with his electric stuff has allowed him to sustain a productive professional career across multiple organizations and roles.

José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez Career Wins

Throughout his professional career spanning both Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball, Ureña has accumulated significant experience and results across various roles and organizations. His MLB career produced a 44-78 win-loss record with a 4.75 earned run average and 669 strikeouts over his time in the major leagues. His ability to contribute as both a starter and reliever has enabled him to extend his career and find opportunities with numerous franchises.

Notable Career Highlights

Among Ureña’s most notable achievements was his 14-7 season with the Miami Marlins in 2017, which remains his best single-season performance in terms of wins and winning percentage. His consecutive sub-4.00 earned run average seasons in 2017 and 2018 placed him among elite company in Marlins franchise history. His complete-game victory against the Washington Nationals in 2018 showcased his ability to pitch deep into games when at his best. In 2025, his unprecedented journey through five different MLB franchises in a single season cemented his place in baseball history and demonstrated remarkable adaptability and durability.

Career Statistics Summary

Across his professional career, Ureña has proven to be a workhorse pitcher capable of logging significant innings when healthy. His 669 career strikeouts in MLB reflect his ability to miss bats at an above-average rate despite occasional command issues. His versatility has allowed him to contribute in multiple roles, from long-term starting rotations to emergency bullpen appearances, making him a valuable asset for teams seeking experienced pitching depth.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 MLB season stands as the most remarkable chapter of Ureña’s professional career, though not for the traditional reasons of dominant statistics or championship runs. Instead, it was a season defined by unprecedented geographic diversity, as Ureña suited up for five different MLB franchises within a single campaign. This remarkable feat tied an all-time major league record and showcased his remarkable ability to adapt quickly to new environments, teammates, coaching staffs, and ballpark characteristics.

Ureña’s season began with the New York Mets, where he appeared in just two games before being designated for assignment. He then moved to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he pitched effectively over six appearances with a 3.65 earned run average. A brief stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers followed, yielding mixed results over two appearances. His time with the Minnesota Twins included both relief and starting appearances while showing flashes of his best stuff. Finally, his season concluded with the Los Angeles Angels, where he made history by becoming the fifth player to play for five different teams in a single season.

Throughout this remarkable journey, Ureña demonstrated professional character and adaptability. Despite constantly being inserted into new clubhouse environments and learning different team cultures, he continued to prepare properly and give his teams competitive efforts. His cumulative statistics across five teams showed a 3.74 earned run average with 35 strikeouts across 43 and two-thirds innings pitched, demonstrating that his versatility translated into continued effectiveness at the major league level.