Joe Ross Bio
Joseph Andrew Ross, known professionally as Joe Ross, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Philadelphia Phillies. The San Diego Padres selected Ross in the first round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft with the 25th overall pick, and he made his major league debut with the Washington Nationals in 2015. He is a World Series champion as a member of the 2019 Washington Nationals.
Over the course of his career, Ross has been recognized as a promising right-handed starter whose combination of velocity and composure helped him reach the majors at a young age. After recovering from multiple elbow injuries, he transitioned between starting and relief roles and has continued to pursue opportunities with new organizations.
Early Life and Background
Joseph Andrew Ross was born on May 21, 1993, in Berkeley, California. Both of his parents worked in children’s medicine: his father, Willie Ross, served as a pediatrician, and his mother, Jean Ross, worked as an emergency room nurse. Growing up in the Bay Area, Ross and his siblings played youth baseball at Greenman Field in Oakland and frequently practiced hitting together inside the family garage. He is of Korean descent by way of his maternal grandmother.
Ross became a devoted fan of the Oakland Athletics and made frequent visits to the Oakland Coliseum as a child, an experience that helped shape his early interest in professional baseball. He attended Bishop O’Dowd High School, where he played both pitcher and shortstop, although he eventually transitioned away from the latter position to focus on his role on the mound. In his final high school season, Ross posted a 0.79 earned run average, recorded 101 strikeouts, and issued only 17 walks across more than 70 innings pitched, establishing himself as one of the most promising young arms in California.
Path to Baseball
Coming out of high school, Ross had committed to play college baseball for the UCLA Bruins, but his professional path changed when the San Diego Padres selected him with the 25th overall pick in the 2011 MLB draft. On August 15, 2011, he signed with the Padres and received a $2.75 million signing bonus, officially beginning his professional career. After signing, Ross reported to the Rookie-level AZL Padres of the Arizona League, where he made a brief but promising first appearance, allowing just two hits in a scoreless inning. He also spent time in the Arizona Instructional League, where he worked to adapt to the smaller professional strike zone.
Ross began the 2012 season with the Class A Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League, though he initially struggled, going 0-3 with a 9.53 ERA in his first three starts. He continued to develop his craft, dropping his season ERA to 6.26 over his next three starts before being placed on the disabled list in May with shoulder tendinitis. He returned in 2013 with Fort Wayne and later advanced to the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm in 2014, where he was promoted during the season to the Double-A San Antonio Missions, continuing his steady climb through the Padres’ minor league system.
Joe Ross Career
Early Career (2011–2014)
Ross spent his first four professional seasons in the San Diego Padres organization, working his way through several levels of the minor leagues. His early years in rookie and Class A ball were marked by both flashes of potential and the typical adjustments faced by young pitchers transitioning from high school competition. The 2013 and 2014 seasons proved particularly important, as Ross began to find more consistency on the mound, particularly during his time with the Lake Elsinore Storm and later the Double-A San Antonio Missions.
By the end of the 2014 season, Ross had established himself as one of the organization’s top pitching prospects, a status that made him an attractive trade piece for the Padres. On December 19, 2014, he was traded, along with a player to be named later, Trea Turner, to the Washington Nationals as part of a three-team deal involving the Tampa Bay Rays. The trade marked the beginning of his major league journey in the nation’s capital.
Washington Nationals Breakthrough (2015–2021)
Ross made his Major League debut on June 6, 2015, as a starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals. He quickly impressed in his early appearances, outdueling Jimmy Nelson and A. J. Burnett in his second and third starts to earn victories. In his third outing, Ross struck out 11 batters and helped snap an eight-game winning streak by the Pittsburgh Pirates. By early August, his strong performance led manager Matt Williams to move veteran Doug Fister to the bullpen to keep Ross in the rotation. He later transitioned to the bullpen in September as the team worked to manage his innings limit.
In 2016, Ross began the season in the Nationals’ rotation but lost significant time due to right shoulder inflammation, spending stretches on the disabled list. He started Game 4 of the 2016 National League Division Series, giving up four runs in 2.2 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 2017 season brought more challenges, including a brief option to Triple-A Syracuse before returning to the rotation in May. Ross received more run support than any other major league pitcher during the first half of the year. However, on July 15, 2017, he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his season.
After a long recovery, Ross returned to the majors in September 2018, touching 95 to 97 mph with his fastball. In 2019, he went 4-4 with a 5.48 ERA and started Game 5 of the 2019 World Series in place of an injured Max Scherzer, earning a World Series ring when the Nationals defeated the Houston Astros in seven games. He opted out of the shortened 2020 season during the COVID-19 pandemic and later suffered a partial UCL tear in 2021, which led to another Tommy John surgery in 2022.
Milwaukee Brewers Era (2024)
On December 12, 2023, Ross signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. He began the 2024 season in Milwaukee’s starting rotation, compiling a 2-4 record and a 4.50 ERA with 35 strikeouts across nine starts. His season was interrupted in May by a low back strain that landed him on the injured list, and he was later transferred to the 60-day injured list in June before being activated at the end of July. Ross elected free agency following the 2024 season.
Philadelphia Phillies Era (2025)
On December 23, 2024, Ross signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He made 37 appearances, including one start, during the 2025 campaign, compiling a 2-1 record and a 5.12 ERA with 39 strikeouts over 51 innings of work. The Phillies released Ross on August 26, 2025, after which he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization on September 1, 2025. He made five appearances for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, recording a 2.57 ERA with three strikeouts across seven innings before electing free agency on November 6.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Ross’s career came in 2019 when he started Game 5 of the World Series for the Washington Nationals in place of an injured Max Scherzer, helping his team win the championship that year. His two Tommy John surgeries in 2017 and 2022 stand as significant hurdles he overcame to extend his professional career. Ross also became part of one of the most notable trades in recent MLB history when he was dealt alongside Trea Turner to the Nationals in 2014.
Joe Ross Career Wins
Joe Ross has compiled a professional career that spans more than a decade, with verified major league stops in Washington, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia. His most celebrated achievement remains the 2019 World Series championship with the Washington Nationals.
Major League Highlights
Ross’s major league resume includes a 2019 World Series ring, a strong debut campaign in 2015 that included 11 strikeouts in a single game, and a memorable return from Tommy John surgery in 2018 when his fastball reached 97 mph. While detailed win totals across each season require additional verification, his track record of resilience following two major elbow surgeries defines his major league journey.
Joe Ross Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ross’s family is deeply rooted in medicine, with both of his parents working in pediatric and emergency care. His father, Willie Ross, is a pediatrician, and his mother, Jean Ross, is an emergency room nurse based in Oakland, California.
Personal Life
Ross has an older brother, Tyson Ross, who pitched in Major League Baseball from 2010 to 2019, giving the family two big-league arms. His sister, Frankie, is a pediatrician and played soccer at Portland State University. Ross is of Korean descent through his maternal grandmother, a heritage he has occasionally referenced in interviews.
2025 Season Performance
Ross’s 2025 season began with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he signed a one-year, $4 million contract in December 2024. Used primarily out of the bullpen, he made 37 appearances and one start, recording a 2-1 record with a 5.12 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 51 innings. The Phillies released him on August 26, 2025, after which he quickly caught on with the Chicago Cubs organization on a minor league deal on September 1, 2025.
With the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, Ross made five appearances and posted a strong 2.57 ERA with three strikeouts across seven innings, showing flashes of his pre-injury form. He elected free agency on November 6, 2025, opening the door to potential new opportunities heading into the next chapter of his career.