José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez Bio
José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez, born on September 12, 1991, in the Dominican Republic, is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher. He has spent the majority of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with several organizations and is currently a free agent. Known for his strong fastball, Ureña has shown potential throughout his career, though he has also faced challenges with command.
Early Life and Background
José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez was born on September 12, 1991, in the Dominican Republic, where he grew up immersed in the country’s deep baseball culture. Like many Dominican prospects, he developed his game on local fields before entering the professional ranks at a young age. His early exposure to baseball laid the foundation for a career that would eventually take him to Major League Baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
Ureña signed with the Florida Marlins on August 28, 2009, beginning his path through the minor leagues. He spent his first two professional seasons with the Dominican Summer League Marlins before advancing to Low-A with the Jamestown Jammers in 2011, where he posted a 4.33 ERA in 15 starts. In 2012, he pitched for the full-season Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, recording a 3.38 ERA in 138.1 innings. By 2014, he was working at the High-A level with the Jupiter Hammerheads, and he finished that year with a strong 13-8 record, a 3.33 ERA, and 121 strikeouts over 162 innings, establishing himself as a top prospect in the Marlins system.
José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
Ureña began the 2015 season with the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs before earning his first major league call-up on April 13, 2015. He made his MLB debut on May 26, 2015, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, taking the loss after giving up five runs in 4.2 innings. In 20 appearances (nine starts) during his rookie year, he finished 1-5 with a 5.25 ERA. In 2016, he split time between starting and relieving, ending the season 4-9 with a 6.13 ERA in 28 games (12 starts).
Florida / Miami Marlins Breakthrough (2017–2018)
Ureña broke out in 2017, going 14-7 with a 3.82 ERA across 34 games (28 starts) and leading MLB with 14 hit batters. The Marlins named him their Opening Day starter for 2018, but he struggled early, surrendering a home run to Ian Happ on the first pitch of the season. He hit the injured list with a shoulder issue after 16 starts but returned strong, going 6-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his final seven outings. On August 15, 2018, he was ejected and later suspended six games for hitting Ronald Acuña Jr. on the elbow, an incident that drew national attention.
Detroit Tigers Era (2020–2021)
After being non-tendered by the Marlins in December 2020, Ureña signed a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. He earned a spot in the rotation to open 2021 and notched his first win on April 27 against the Chicago White Sox, allowing one earned run in seven innings. On May 2, he became the first Tigers pitcher since David Price in 2015 to record four consecutive starts of at least seven innings while allowing two runs or fewer. A groin strain cost him time on the injured list, and he finished the year 4-8 with a 5.81 ERA in 26 games (18 starts).
Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies Era (2022–2023)
Ureña signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers in March 2022 and posted a 3.52 ERA in four relief appearances before being designated for assignment. He then joined the Colorado Rockies, where he went 3-8 with a 5.14 ERA in 17 starts during 2022. He re-signed with Colorado on a one-year, $3 million deal but struggled in 2023, going 0-4 with a 9.82 ERA in five starts before being released in late April.
Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers Era (2023–2024)
After a brief stint in the Washington Nationals organization, Ureña signed with the Chicago White Sox in August 2023 and went 0-3 with a 4.10 ERA in five starts. In January 2024, he signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers and made the Opening Day roster. He served as a swingman, going 5-8 with a 3.80 ERA across 109 innings and recording his first save of the season on June 23 against the Kansas City Royals. On August 19, he became the first Rangers pitcher since Pat Mahomes Sr. to log three relief appearances of four or more scoreless innings in the same season.
New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays Era (2025)
Ureña signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets in February 2025 and was selected to the active roster on April 27. He made his Mets debut on April 28, earning a save despite allowing five earned runs in three innings, before being designated for assignment the next day. On May 5, he signed a major league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, pitching to a 3.65 ERA in six appearances before being designated for assignment on May 31.
Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins Era (2025)
Ureña signed a major league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 3, 2025, and allowed one earned run across two appearances before being designated for assignment on June 10. He then signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins on June 24, and his contract was selected on August 1. In four appearances (three starts) for Minnesota, he went 0-1 with a 4.58 ERA before being designated for assignment on August 23.
Los Angeles Angels Era (2025)
On August 31, 2025, Ureña signed a major league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He made his Angels debut on September 5, 2025, in a 10-4 loss to the Athletics, tying the major league record for most franchises played for in a single season with five. He shares the record with Mike Baumann (2024), Oliver Drake (2018), and Bobo Leonard (1924).
Driving Style and Strengths
Ureña relies on a power arm built around a mid-to-upper-90s fastball, featuring both a four-seam and a sinking two-seam version that have averaged 95 MPH and reached as high as 99 MPH. He complements the heater with a slurve in the mid-80s and a changeup around 89 MPH, giving him a four-pitch mix. His above-average command has at times been offset by control issues, as he tied for the MLB lead with 14 hit batters in 2017 and was suspended six games in 2018 for intentionally drilling Ronald Acuña Jr.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Ureña’s career came on August 15, 2018, when he was ejected for hitting Ronald Acuña Jr. on the elbow, a confrontation that cleared both benches and led to a six-game suspension. He later redeemed himself with a complete-game victory against the Washington Nationals, finishing 2018 with a 3.98 ERA and becoming just the sixth Marlins starter to post a sub-4.00 ERA in consecutive seasons. In 2025, he tied the major league record for most franchises played for in a single season, suiting up for five different organizations.
José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez Career Wins
Across his major league career, José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez has compiled a long résumé of appearances as both a starter and a reliever, logging wins with the Marlins, Tigers, and Rangers. His most productive stretch came in 2017, when he went 14-7 with a 3.82 ERA for Miami.
Major League Highlights
Ureña’s first major league victory came during his rookie season in 2015 with the Miami Marlins. He added 14 more wins in 2017 to establish himself as a reliable starter, and he continued to contribute victories as a swingman for the Texas Rangers in 2024, where he went 5-8 with a 3.80 ERA across 109 innings. With the Minnesota Twins in 2025, he earned a win in his debut appearance against the Cleveland Guardians.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond the majors, Ureña put together a strong 2014 campaign in the minors, going 13-8 with a 3.33 ERA and 121 strikeouts over 162 innings across the High-A and Double-A levels. He continued to log quality innings in Triple-A during stints with the Syracuse Mets and St. Paul Saints in 2025, even when his major league opportunities were brief.
José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Limited public information is available about José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez’s immediate family. He grew up in the Dominican Republic, a country renowned for producing major league pitching talent, and he entered professional baseball directly out of that environment when he signed with the Florida Marlins as a teenager in 2009.
Personal Life
Details about Ureña’s personal life, including marital status and children, have not been publicly confirmed. He has spent much of his career in transition between organizations, which has kept much of his private life out of the spotlight.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been defined by movement for José Miguel Ureña Rodríguez, who became one of the most-traveled pitchers in the major leagues. After a brief stint with the New York Mets and a short run with the Toronto Blue Jays, he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, and Los Angeles Angels, tying the major league record for most franchises played for in a single season. Despite the frequent team changes, he delivered several solid outings, including a win in his Twins debut and a scoreless relief appearance with the Rangers the previous year that carried into his late-season form.
Ureña’s role has evolved into that of a veteran swingman, capable of giving multiple innings out of the bullpen or stepping into the rotation when needed. His fastball still sits in the mid-90s, and his experience provides stability to bullpens in transition. While his command can waver, he has continued to log quality starts and high-leverage relief frames for clubs in need of depth.
With another offseason approaching, Ureña’s market value will depend on whether teams view him as a starter, a long reliever, or a depth piece. His durability, his track record of eating innings, and his proven ability to step into different roles make him a low-risk addition for clubs looking for veteran pitching help heading into 2026.