José Luis Hernández Urquidy Bio
José Luis Hernández Urquidy (born May 1, 1995) is a Mexican professional baseball pitcher who most recently played for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers. Urquidy signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent on March 2, 2015, under the name José Luis Hernández, as he was known until the start of the 2019 season. He made his MLB debut in July 2019 and has established himself as a reliable starting pitcher at the major league level.
Early Life and Background
José Luis Hernández Urquidy was born on May 1, 1995, in Mexico. Prior to the 2019 season, he was known professionally as José Luis Hernández. He grew up developing his pitching skills in Mexico before pursuing a professional baseball career. His journey from Mexico to professional baseball in the United States demonstrates his dedication to reaching the highest level of the sport.
Path to Major League Baseball
Urquidy signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent on March 2, 2015. He made his professional debut that same year, splitting his time between the Greeneville Astros and Tri-City ValleyCats in rookie-level leagues. He pitched to a combined 2–1 record with a 3.35 earned run average in 37 and two-thirds innings during his debut season. The following year in 2016, he advanced to the Quad Cities River Bandits and Lancaster JetHawks, posting a 6–5 record with a 2.94 ERA in 24 appearances including 21 starts.
His career progression faced a significant setback when he missed the entire 2017 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. This type of elbow reconstruction surgery is common among pitchers and requires extensive rehabilitation time. He returned to the mound in 2018, pitching for Tri-City and the Buies Creek Astros, where he went 2–2 with an impressive 2.35 ERA in 13 games with 11 starts.
José Luis Hernández Urquidy Career
Houston Astros Breakthrough (2019–2023)
Urquidy began the 2019 season with the Corpus Christi Hooks before receiving a promotion to the Round Rock Express. On July 2, 2019, the Astros promoted him to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut that night in a start versus the Colorado Rockies, pitching 3 and two-thirds innings. In 2019, he appeared in nine games with seven starts, compiling a 2–1 record with a 3.95 ERA across 41 innings pitched.
His 2019 season reached its pinnacle during the postseason. In Game 4 of the 2019 World Series versus the Washington Nationals, Urquidy started for the Houston Astros, becoming just the third Mexican-born World Series starting pitcher. He threw five innings, giving up two hits while striking out four. With the Astros winning the game, Urquidy became the second Mexican-born pitcher to win a World Series game, joining the legendary Fernando Valenzuela.
The 2020 season saw Urquidy post a 1–1 record with a 2.73 ERA in five starts covering 29 and two-thirds innings. His 2021 campaign proved to be a breakout year as he went 8–3 with a 3.62 ERA in 20 starts covering 107 innings. In the postseason, he started Game 3 of the American League Championship Series versus the Boston Red Sox. He earned the winning pitcher decision in both of Houston’s victories versus the Atlanta Braves in the 2021 World Series. Starting Game 2, he threw five innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts as the Astros defeated Atlanta 7–2. With that win, Urquidy became the first Mexican-born pitcher to earn multiple World Series wins. Pitching in relief in Game 5, he earned the win with one scoreless inning, making him the winningest internationally-born player in World Series history.
2022 Season and World Series Championship
The 2022 season showcased Urquidy’s consistency as a workhorse starter. On June 26, 2022, he started a contest with 6 and one-third hitless innings versus the New York Yankees before ceding a home run to Giancarlo Stanton. Urquidy’s performance extended a no-hit streak to 16 and one-third innings forged by Astros pitching, tying an expansion-era record. On July 8, he reached a career-high eight innings in an 8–3 win versus the Oakland Athletics. He spun seven scoreless innings on August 3 versus Boston, delivering a game score of 83 and tying his career high of 10 strikeouts on the way to a 6–1 win. On August 15, he hurled 7 and two-thirds hitless innings versus the Chicago White Sox until allowing his lone hit to A. J. Pollock before being removed.
For the 2022 season, Urquidy compiled a 13–8 record with a 3.94 ERA in 29 games including 28 starts, covering 164 and one-third innings. In the Astros’ playoff run, he made one appearance in the World Series, pitching three scoreless innings in relief to help stabilize the bullpen in a 7–0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3. Urquidy became the first Mexican-born player in Major League history to appear in three World Series. The Astros won the championship in six games, earning Urquidy his first World Series championship and making him the 15th Mexican-born player to win a World Series.
Final Astros Seasons and Injuries (2023–2024)
On January 13, 2023, Urquidy avoided arbitration with the Astros, agreeing to a one-year, $3.025 million contract. After exiting a start in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies with right shoulder soreness, the Astros placed him on the 15-day injured list on May 1. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 23. He returned from the injured list on August 6 to make a start versus the Yankees, which the Astros won 9–7. Urquidy picked up the last four innings of a 13–5 win over Boston on August 28 to convert his first career save. In the third-to-last regular season game of 2023, Urquidy made and won a spot start versus the Arizona Diamondbacks by authoring six shutout innings, which proved instrumental in the Astros’ postseason push in a tight American League West division race.
Urquidy started and won Game 4 of the American League Division Series, a 3–2 win versus the Minnesota Twins, to clinch the series. He delivered 5 and two-thirds innings with two runs allowed, both on solo home runs, three hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. The Astros advanced to their seventh-straight American League Championship Series. Urquidy began the 2024 campaign on the injured list due to a right forearm strain. On June 5, 2024, it was announced that he would undergo season-ending elbow surgery. On November 4, 2024, Urquidy was removed from the 40-man roster to be sent outright to the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, but he rejected the assignment and elected free agency.
Detroit Tigers (2025)
On March 8, 2025, Urquidy signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. He was subsequently placed on the 60-day injured list as he continued his recovery from Tommy John surgery performed in 2024. He was activated for his season and team debut on September 12, 2025. He was designated for assignment on September 18 but accepted a minor league option the next day. In two appearances for Detroit, he struggled to a 7.71 ERA with three strikeouts across 2 and one-third innings pitched. On November 6, the Tigers declined their option on Urquidy, making him a free agent.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2026–Present)
On February 12, 2026, Urquidy signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. On April 17, 2026, Urquidy was optioned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians to begin the season.
José Luis Hernández Urquidy Career Wins
Across his MLB career through the 2025 season, José Luis Hernández Urquidy has compiled a win-loss record of 27–16 with a 3.99 earned run average and 329 strikeouts. His career has been highlighted by consistent postseason performance and multiple World Series victories.
World Series Highlights
Urquidy’s postseason achievements rank among the most significant for a Mexican-born pitcher. In the 2019 World Series, he became the second Mexican-born pitcher to win a World Series game. His 2021 performances were even more historic, as he became the first Mexican-born pitcher to earn multiple World Series wins. His combined efforts across the 2021 and 2022 World Series made him the winningest internationally-born player in World Series history. He became the first Mexican-born player in MLB history to appear in three World Series during the 2022 championship run.
Regular Season Highlights
His best regular season came in 2022 when he posted a 13–8 record with a 3.94 ERA in 28 starts. He reached career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts while demonstrating his ability to pitch deep into games. His 2021 season saw him go 8–3 with a 3.62 ERA in 20 starts, establishing himself as a reliable mid-rotation starter for the Astros.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Win-Loss Record | 27–16 |
| Earned Run Average | 3.99 |
| Strikeouts | 329 |
International Career
On August 27, 2022, Urquidy committed to play for Team Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. This commitment represented his opportunity to represent his home country on the international stage during one of baseball’s premier tournaments. His participation in the tournament highlighted his standing as one of Mexico’s top professional pitchers.
José Luis Hernández Urquidy Family
Personal Life
Prior to the 2019 season, Urquidy was known professionally as José Luis Hernández. He legally changed his name to José Luis Hernández Urquidy before beginning the 2019 season. Beyond his baseball career, he maintains a presence on social media with an Instagram account. He has undergone two significant elbow surgeries during his career, including Tommy John surgery in 2017 and another elbow surgery in 2024.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of recovery and limited action for Urquidy following his elbow surgery in 2024. After signing with the Detroit Tigers in March, he remained on the injured list for the majority of the season as he continued his rehabilitation. His season and team debut finally came on September 12, 2025, marking his return to major league action after an extended absence.
His time with the Tigers was brief, as he appeared in only two games totaling 2 and one-third innings. He struggled with a 7.71 ERA during this limited sample size, which is understandable given his recent injury history and rust from the extended layoff. The Tigers ultimately declined their option on him following the season, making him a free agent. Despite the challenging year, Urquidy’s ability to return to the mound demonstrated his resilience and determination to continue his professional baseball career.