Cal Quantrill

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    Image of Player Cal Quantrill

    Cal Quantrill Bio

    Cal Paul Quantrill (born February 10, 1995) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians / Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Atlanta Braves, and Texas Rangers. A starting pitcher for most of his major league career, Quantrill first reached the majors in 2019 after being selected eighth overall in the 2016 MLB draft. He is the son of former MLB reliever Paul Quantrill, who pitched for 14 seasons in the big leagues.

    Early Life and Background

    Cal Paul Quantrill was born on February 10, 1995, in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a baseball family, the son of Paul Quantrill, a Canadian right-hander who spent more than a decade pitching in the major leagues. Watching his father navigate a long professional career helped shape Cal Quantrill’s understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level of the sport.

    Quantrill attended Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario, where he was a four-time varsity letterman in baseball and also lettered in hockey and volleyball. As a teenager, he drew attention from professional scouts and was selected by the New York Yankees in the 26th round of the 2013 MLB draft, though he did not sign with the club. Instead, he chose to continue his development as a college pitcher and pursue a higher level of competition.

    Path to Baseball

    After finishing high school, Quantrill enrolled at Stanford University to play college baseball for the Stanford Cardinal. In his freshman season, he made 17 starts, including the team’s opening-day game, becoming the first freshman to start opening day for Stanford since Mike Mussina in 1988. He posted a 7–5 win–loss record, a 2.68 earned run average (ERA), and 98 strikeouts in 110 2/3 innings, a strong introduction to Division I baseball.

    His sophomore season was cut short by an arm injury. He went 2–0 with a 1.93 ERA in 18 2/3 innings before undergoing Tommy John surgery, which kept him out for the remainder of that year and the entire 2016 college season. Despite the injury, he remained a top prospect, and the San Diego Padres selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2016 MLB draft.

    Cal Quantrill Career

    Early Career (2016–2018)

    After signing with the San Diego Padres, Quantrill was assigned to the Arizona Padres and moved quickly through the lower minors. He pitched for the Tri-City Dust Devils and the Fort Wayne TinCaps in 2016, finishing the year with a combined 0–5 record and a 5.11 ERA in 12 starts. He also appeared in the San Diego Padres Futures Game that fall, striking out four batters in two innings.

    Quantrill spent 2017 between the San Antonio Missions and the Lake Elsinore Storm, going 7–10 with a 3.80 ERA in 22 starts. In 2018, he began the year in San Antonio before joining the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas in August, finishing with a 9–6 record and a 4.80 ERA across 28 total starts. His progression through the Padres system set the stage for his first major league call-up the following spring.

    San Diego Padres (2019–2020)

    Quantrill made his major league debut on May 1, 2019, allowing two runs over 5 2/3 innings. He earned his first major league win on May 25, 2019, in Toronto, before being optioned back to El Paso the next day. In the shortened 2020 season, he appeared in 10 games for the Padres, going 2–0.

    On August 31, 2020, San Diego traded Quantrill, along with Austin Hedges, Josh Naylor, and minor leaguers Gabriel Arias, Owen Miller, and Joey Cantillo, to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Mike Clevinger, Greg Allen, and Matt Waldron. The trade marked the end of his time in the Padres organization and the beginning of his most productive stretch in the majors.

    Cleveland Indians / Guardians (2020–2023)

    Quantrill closed out the 2020 season with Cleveland, appearing in eight games and posting a 0–0 record with a 1.84 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings. In 2021, his first full season as a starter, he went 8–2 with a 2.89 ERA in 149 2/3 innings, with a 1.176 WHIP, establishing himself as a reliable member of the rotation.

    His 2022 season represented his high point. Quantrill went 15–5 with a 3.38 ERA in 186 1/3 innings, with a 1.208 WHIP. During the year, Cleveland fans began referring to his starts as “Cal Quantrill Day,” reflecting his reputation for receiving strong run support, and he carried a perfect home record through the regular season. On January 13, 2023, he agreed to a one-year, $5.55 million contract to avoid salary arbitration. On May 7 of that year, he took a no-hit bid 6 2/3 innings into a start against the Minnesota Twins before Alex Kirilloff singled. The Guardians designated him for assignment on November 14, 2023.

    Colorado Rockies (2024)

    On November 17, 2023, Cleveland traded Quantrill to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for minor league catcher Kody Huff. In 29 starts for Colorado in 2024, he compiled an 8–11 record and a 4.98 ERA with 110 strikeouts across 148 1/3 innings pitched. On November 22, 2024, the Rockies non-tendered him, returning him to free agency.

    Miami Marlins (2025)

    On February 12, 2025, Quantrill signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Miami Marlins. On May 18, he pitched an immaculate inning against the Tampa Bay Rays, striking out Jonathan Aranda, Christopher Morel, and Kameron Misner in order on nine pitches. He became the second pitcher in Marlins history to record an immaculate inning, after Jesús Sánchez in 1998. In 24 starts for Miami, Quantrill posted a 4–10 record and a 5.50 ERA with 82 strikeouts across 109 2/3 innings.

    Atlanta Braves (2025)

    On August 21, 2025, Quantrill was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. In two starts with Atlanta, he posted a 13.50 ERA with three strikeouts over eight innings. The Braves released him on September 4, 2025.

    Texas Rangers (2025)

    On September 9, 2025, Quantrill signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. He made two starts for the Triple-A Round Rock Express, going 1–0 with a 1.64 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 11 innings. Following the season, on November 6, 2025, he elected free agency.

    Notable Events and Milestones

    Among the highlights of Quantrill’s career are his 2022 breakout with Cleveland, when he went 15–5, and his May 18, 2025, immaculate inning with the Miami Marlins, which placed him in a select group in franchise history. He also threw 6 2/3 no-hit innings against the Twins in 2023 before the bid was broken up.

    Cal Quantrill Career Wins

    Quantrill has accumulated wins across both the minor leagues and Major League Baseball since debuting in 2019. His most productive stretch came during his years as a starter with Cleveland, where he reached double-digit wins in 2022.

    Major League Highlights

    Quantrill recorded his first major league win on May 25, 2019, in Toronto while pitching for the Padres. He has since posted double-digit win totals with Cleveland in 2021 and 2022, peaking at 15 wins in 2022. He also earned a win in Triple-A with Round Rock in 2025.

    Other Wins and Performances

    During his development years, Quantrill notched wins in the Padres’ minor league system, including time with the Fort Wayne TinCaps, Lake Elsinore Storm, San Antonio Missions, and El Paso Chihuahuas. He also pitched in the Padres Futures Game in 2016.

    Cal Quantrill Family

    Family Background and Baseball Lineage

    Quantrill is the son of Paul Quantrill, a Canadian pitcher who played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball. Growing up around the game gave Cal Quantrill an early understanding of the demands of a professional pitching career and helped fuel his own path to the major leagues.

    Personal Life

    Quantrill is Canadian by nationality and was raised in Port Hope, Ontario. He attended Trinity College School in his hometown before moving on to Stanford University.

    2025 Season Performance

    Quantrill’s 2025 season was defined by movement between organizations. He opened the year with the Miami Marlins, where he logged 24 starts and reached a notable milestone by throwing an immaculate inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. Despite that highlight, his overall results in Miami were difficult, finishing the year with a 4–10 record and a 5.50 ERA.

    Midway through the season, the Atlanta Braves claimed him off waivers, but his time in Atlanta lasted only two starts before he was released. He quickly caught on with the Texas Rangers on a minor league deal and produced two strong starts for the Round Rock Express, giving him a positive finish to the year at the Triple-A level.

    Following the conclusion of the minor league season, Quantrill elected free agency on November 6, 2025, opening the door to his next major league opportunity. His mix of starting experience, bullpen flexibility, and recent immaculate-inning performance should keep him in demand as teams build their rotations for the year ahead.