John Curtiss Bio
John Pickens Curtiss (born April 5, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. A right-handed reliever, he has pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, and Colorado Rockies. Across his career, Curtiss has served primarily as a middle reliever, contributing out of the bullpen for eight different organizations while working through injuries and roster movement.
Now a veteran of several MLB clubs, Curtiss has built his career on resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks, including a major elbow reconstruction in 2021. His journey from a Texas high school prospect to a World Series contributor and a current member of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization reflects years of perseverance in professional baseball.
Early Life and Background
John Pickens Curtiss was born on April 5, 1993, and grew up in the Dallas–Fort Worth region of Texas. He attended Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas, where he developed as a pitching prospect and gained attention from Major League Baseball scouts.
Curtiss was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 30th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft out of high school but chose not to sign. He instead enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, where he played college baseball for the Texas Longhorns, refining his skills on the mound while competing at one of the most competitive college baseball programs in the country.
Path to Baseball
After completing his time with the Texas Longhorns, Curtiss re-entered professional baseball when he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the sixth round, with the 170th overall selection, of the 2014 MLB draft. He began his professional career that summer and steadily advanced through the Twins’ minor league system over the next several seasons, learning the routines and preparation required of a major league reliever.
Curtiss worked his way up the minor league ladder, appearing with affiliates including the Elizabethton Twins, the Gulf Coast Twins, Cedar Rapids Kernels, Fort Myers Miracle, Chattanooga Lookouts, and Rochester Red Wings. After the 2016 season, he also gained valuable experience by pitching in the Arizona Fall League, a well-known showcase for top prospects. His consistent development in the minors earned him a place on the Twins’ 40-man roster in 2017 and his first opportunity in the major leagues later that summer.
John Curtiss Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Curtiss made his professional debut in 2014 with the Elizabethton Twins. He spent 2015 with the Gulf Coast Twins and Cedar Rapids Kernels and played in 2016 with Cedar Rapids and the Fort Myers Miracle, continuing to develop as a relief pitcher. He opened 2017 with the Chattanooga Lookouts before earning a promotion to the Rochester Red Wings of Triple-A.
On August 23, 2017, Curtiss was added to the Minnesota Twins’ 40-man roster and called up to the major leagues for the first time. He made nine appearances during his rookie campaign, recording 10 strikeouts across 8+2⁄3 innings but struggling to an 8.31 ERA. In 2018, he appeared in eight contests for the Twins, going 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA and seven strikeouts in 6+1⁄3 innings. On January 14, 2019, following the team’s signing of reliever Blake Parker, Curtiss was designated for assignment.
Los Angeles Angels (2019)
On January 15, 2019, Curtiss was traded from the Twins to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Daniel Ozoria. He opened the 2019 season with the Salt Lake Bees in Triple-A and appeared in one game for the Angels on April 15. He was designated for assignment on April 30, then outrighted on May 3, but he refused the assignment in favor of free agency.
On June 12, 2019, Curtiss signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. In eight appearances for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, he struggled to a 10.95 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 12+1⁄3 innings pitched, and he was released by the organization on July 7.
Tampa Bay Rays (2020)
On February 3, 2020, Curtiss signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was called up to the majors on August 9 after Oliver Drake was placed on the injured list and made his debut that same day, pitching two perfect innings in a 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees. Two days later, on August 11, he earned his first major league win in an 8-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
Curtiss had his most prominent career moment in the 2020 postseason. He was the winning pitcher in Game 4 of the 2020 World Series, a contest in which the Rays walked off the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7 in a finish that was widely labeled as an instant classic. Although the Rays went on to lose the World Series four games to two, the appearance cemented Curtiss as a contributor on one of baseball’s biggest stages.
Miami Marlins (2021)
On February 17, 2021, Curtiss was traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Evan Edwards. He enjoyed a strong stretch with Miami, appearing in 35 games and posting a 3-1 record with a 2.48 ERA, recording 40 strikeouts across 40 innings of work. His performance made him one of the more reliable middle relievers in the Marlins’ bullpen during the early part of the 2021 season.
Milwaukee Brewers (2021)
On July 30, 2021, Curtiss was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Payton Henry. He struggled in six appearances for Milwaukee, posting a 12.46 ERA with four strikeouts in 4+1⁄3 innings. On August 11, he was placed on the injured list after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, ending his season. On September 7, he underwent Tommy John surgery, and on November 30, he was non-tendered by the Brewers, becoming a free agent.
New York Mets (2022–2023)
On April 6, 2022, Curtiss signed a major league contract with the New York Mets but missed the entire 2022 season while recovering from his prior elbow injury. On November 10, the Mets exercised his $775,000 option for the 2023 season. He made 15 appearances for New York in 2023, posting a 4.58 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 19+2⁄3 innings pitched. On August 14, 2023, he was placed on the 60-day injured list with a loose body in his right elbow and underwent season-ending surgery to remove the loose body on August 22. Following the season, on November 2, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, and he elected free agency on November 6.
Colorado Rockies (2024)
On January 25, 2024, Curtiss signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies. In 17 games for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, he posted a 6.75 ERA with 18 strikeouts across 21+1⁄3 innings. On May 24, the Rockies selected his contract, adding him to their active roster. In his only appearance for Colorado, he allowed two runs on three hits in one-third of an inning, and he was designated for assignment on May 27. After clearing waivers, he was outrighted to Albuquerque on May 30 but rejected the assignment and elected free agency, only to re-sign with the Rockies on a new minor league contract the following day. He was released on July 1 and re-signed two days later. On July 27, his contract was purchased and he returned to the major league roster. After allowing a run in each of his two subsequent appearances, he was designated for assignment again on August 6, cleared waivers, was outrighted to Albuquerque on August 9, and elected free agency on September 30.
Arizona Diamondbacks Era (2025)
On February 11, 2025, Curtiss signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 25 appearances for the Triple-A Reno Aces, he logged a 1-1 record and a 6.34 ERA with 28 strikeouts and two saves across 32+2⁄3 innings. On June 28, the Diamondbacks selected his contract, adding him to their active roster. In 30 appearances for the Diamondbacks, he posted a 3-2 record and 3.93 ERA with 24 strikeouts and one save across 36+2⁄3 innings. On November 6, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Reno, electing free agency the same day. On December 16, 2025, he re-signed with the Diamondbacks organization on a minor league contract.
Driving Style and Strengths
Curtiss works primarily as a middle reliever, capable of handling multiple innings when needed. His strengths have shown in stretches such as his 2021 season with the Miami Marlins, when he posted a 2.48 ERA across 40 innings with 40 strikeouts, demonstrating the ability to miss bats and limit damage in high-leverage spots. He has shown resilience in returning from major elbow surgery to contribute at the major league level.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Curtiss’ career came in the 2020 World Series, when he earned the win in Game 4 as the Tampa Bay Rays walked off the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7. He also earned his first major league victory on August 11, 2020, against the Boston Red Sox, and made his MLB debut on August 9, 2020, with two perfect innings against the New York Yankees. His recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2021 and subsequent return to the majors stand as additional career milestones.
John Curtiss Career Wins
Across his major league career, John Pickens Curtiss has accumulated wins with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Miami Marlins, among other clubs, while contributing as a reliever for eight different organizations.
Tampa Bay Rays Highlights
Curtiss made his MLB debut with the Rays on August 9, 2020, and earned his first major league win two days later on August 11, 2020, in an 8-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. His most prominent victory came in Game 4 of the 2020 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a contest that ended with an 8-7 walk-off win widely regarded as an instant classic.
Other Wins and Performances
With the Miami Marlins in 2021, Curtiss posted a 3-1 record and a 2.48 ERA across 35 appearances, one of the strongest stretches of his career. In 2025 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he went 3-2 with a 3.93 ERA across 30 appearances, providing a reliable presence in the bullpen for the organization.
John Curtiss Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
There is limited public information about John Pickens Curtiss’ family background beyond his upbringing in the Southlake, Texas, area and his attendance at Carroll Senior High School.
Personal Life
Curtiss has kept his personal life largely private, and no confirmed public details about a spouse or children are widely available.
2025 Season Performance
John Pickens Curtiss spent the 2025 season in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, beginning with a minor league contract signed on February 11, 2025. With the Triple-A Reno Aces, he worked 25 appearances, logging a 1-1 record and 6.34 ERA with 28 strikeouts and two saves across 32+2⁄3 innings.
On June 28, the Diamondbacks selected his contract, bringing him to the major league roster. He appeared in 30 games for Arizona, finishing the year with a 3-2 record and a 3.93 ERA, recording 24 strikeouts and one save across 36+2⁄3 innings. His work helped stabilize a bullpen that cycled through several arms during the 2025 campaign.
On November 6, 2025, the Diamondbacks removed Curtiss from the 40-man roster and sent him outright to Reno, where he elected free agency the same day. His tenure with the organization continued when he re-signed with the Diamondbacks on a minor league contract on December 16, 2025, positioning him to compete for another opportunity in 2026.