Jose Quintana Bio
José Guillermo Quintana, born on January 24, 1989, is a Colombian-American professional baseball pitcher who has spent more than a decade pitching in Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed starter known for his command and durability, Quintana has represented the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and Milwaukee Brewers across his career. He is a free agent following the 2025 season, having earned a reputation as a reliable mid-rotation presence and a 2016 MLB All-Star.
Early Life and Background
José Guillermo Quintana was born on January 24, 1989, in Colombia, where he first developed his interest in baseball. Growing up in a country where baseball competes with soccer for attention, Quintana honed his pitching skills on local diamonds and quickly stood out for his poise on the mound. His performances drew the attention of international scouts, setting the stage for a professional career that would eventually bring him to the United States.
Quintana signed as an international free agent with the New York Mets and began his professional career in 2006 in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League, pitching for the VSL Mets. After sitting out the 2007 season following a suspension for violating Minor League Baseball’s drug policy, he signed with the New York Yankees in 2008. He spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons in the Dominican Summer League before advancing through the Gulf Coast League and the Class A South Atlantic League in 2010. In 2011, Quintana posted a 10–2 record with a 2.91 ERA for the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, and he became a minor league free agent after that season.
Path to Major League Baseball
Quintana’s breakout minor league campaign in 2011 caught the attention of Chicago White Sox scouts Daraka Shaheed and Joe Siers, who recommended that the organization sign him. On November 10, 2011, Quintana agreed to a major league contract with the White Sox and was assigned to the Birmingham Barons of the Class AA Southern League. After posting a 1–2 record with a 3.06 ERA in five starts for Birmingham, he was promoted to the majors on May 7, 2012, under the new MLB rule allowing teams to carry a 26th man on the roster for a doubleheader.
He made his MLB debut that day in relief, pitching 5⅔ scoreless innings with three strikeouts. After a brief option back to Birmingham, Quintana was promoted through the Charlotte Knights directly to Chicago on May 25, 2012, when John Danks landed on the injured list. The same day, he earned his first MLB victory against the Cleveland Indians, pitching six innings and allowing two runs. The rapid ascent from a free-agent minor leaguer to a major league starter was complete, and Quintana’s path to the majors had been established.
Jose Quintana Career
Early Career (2012–2015)
Quintana spent his formative MLB years with the Chicago White Sox, where he quickly became a fixture in the rotation. In 2013, he logged 200 innings across 33 starts, finishing 9–7 with a 3.51 ERA and 164 strikeouts, and his 17 no decisions were the most among MLB starting pitchers that season. On March 24, 2014, he signed a five-year extension with the White Sox that included club options for two additional years, a deal ultimately guaranteed at $26.5 million after he qualified as a Super 2 arbitration player.
He followed that with a 9–11 record and 3.32 ERA in 2014, and a 9–10 record with a 3.36 ERA in 2015, when he also led all major league pitchers in curveball usage at 30.9 percent. Through the first half of 2016, Quintana went 7–8 with a 3.21 ERA in 117⅔ innings and was selected to the MLB All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Danny Salazar. He finished 2016 at 13–12 with a 3.20 ERA and 181 strikeouts, and he tied for tenth in the American League Cy Young Award voting.
Chicago White Sox Tenure (2012–2017)
Quintana opened the 2017 season as the White Sox’s Opening Day starting pitcher and served as a dependable presence before being traded to the Chicago Cubs on July 13, 2017, in a deal that brought prospects Eloy Jiménez, Dylan Cease, Matt Rose, and Bryant Flete to Chicago. Between the two teams in 2017, he went 11–11 with a 4.15 ERA, including a strong debut for the Cubs on July 16 when he struck out 12 batters in an 8–0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. His White Sox tenure cemented his identity as a workhorse innings-eater capable of logging 200 frames per season.
Chicago Cubs Era (2017–2020)
After arriving in Chicago, Quintana posted a 13–11 record with a 4.03 ERA in 32 starts for the Cubs in 2018, including the start of the National League Central tie-breaker game against the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2019, he finished 13–9 with a 4.68 ERA, highlighted by a 4–1 record and 2.02 ERA across the month of August. The 2020 season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, was derailed when he underwent surgery to repair a lacerated nerve on his throwing thumb, an injury he sustained while washing dishes. He returned to pitch 10 innings with a 4.50 ERA that year.
Los Angeles Angels (2021)
On January 22, 2021, Quintana signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. A shoulder inflammation sent him to the 10-day injured list in late May, and upon his June activation he was moved to the bullpen. He struggled in that role, finishing his Angels stint with an 0–3 record, a 6.75 ERA, and 73 strikeouts across 24 appearances before being designated for assignment later that summer.
San Francisco Giants (2021)
On August 30, 2021, Quintana was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants. He made five appearances for San Francisco and posted a 4.66 ERA with 12 strikeouts before being designated for assignment on September 30. On October 15, 2021, he elected free agency, ending a turbulent 2021 season split between two clubs.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2022)
On November 29, 2021, Quintana signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He earned his first Pirates win on May 9, 2022, pitching six scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers with five strikeouts, and he compiled a 2.00 ERA across 27 innings in May. After a tougher June, he rebounded in July with a 3.67 ERA and a 2–1 record, including a victory over the Miami Marlins in which he tossed seven scoreless innings. On July 29, 2022, he was traded, along with Chris Stratton, to the St. Louis Cardinals for Malcom Núñez and Johan Oviedo.
St. Louis Cardinals (2022)
Quintana made his Cardinals debut on August 4, 2022, in the second game of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium, tossing six innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts. He later posted a 0.89 ERA across five September starts, including eight scoreless innings against the Cincinnati Reds on September 17. For the 2022 season, Quintana finished with a career-best 2.93 ERA in 165⅔ innings, with 137 strikeouts in 32 starts. He started Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, pitching 5⅓ scoreless innings in a no-decision.
New York Mets Era (2023–2024)
On December 9, 2022, Quintana signed a two-year, $26 million contract with the New York Mets. A stress fracture in his rib cage, diagnosed early in spring training, required surgery and kept him out until July. He made his 2023 debut on July 20 against the Chicago White Sox and finished the year 3–6 with a 3.57 ERA across 13 starts. In 2024, Quintana started on Opening Day and recorded his 100th career win on September 7 against the Cincinnati Reds, becoming the first Colombian-born pitcher to reach that milestone. He ended 2024 at 10–10 with a 3.75 ERA and 135 strikeouts, then pitched six scoreless innings in the decisive Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Brewers, helping the Mets advance.
Milwaukee Brewers Era (2025)
On March 5, 2025, Quintana signed a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers and consented to an optional assignment at Triple-A Nashville to build up after missing half of spring training. On April 11, he became the 24th pitcher to earn a win against all 30 MLB teams, defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks, and joined Gerrit Cole, Charlie Morton, Max Scherzer, and Justin Verlander as the only active pitchers to accomplish the feat. He won all four of his April starts and posted a 1.14 ERA for the month. He finished the regular season 11–7 with a 3.96 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 131⅔ innings, before a left calf strain ended his year in mid-September.
Driving Style and Strengths
Quintana has built his career on consistency, command, and the ability to log innings deep into games. His heavy curveball usage has been a defining feature, peaking at 30.9 percent of pitches in 2015, and he pairs it with reliable fastball command to keep hitters off balance. Even in seasons where his ERA climbs, his durability and ability to avoid prolonged slumps have made him a trusted rotation presence.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature milestones, Quintana was named an MLB All-Star in 2016, became the first Colombian-born pitcher to record 100 career wins in 2024, and joined an exclusive group as the 24th pitcher to beat all 30 MLB clubs during his 2025 debut for the Brewers. He also represented Colombia in the 2017 World Baseball Classic and was named to the 2026 World Baseball Classic qualifiers roster.
Jose Quintana Career Wins
Across his MLB career, José Quintana has accumulated more than 100 regular-season victories, highlighted by his milestone 100th win in 2024 and a career-best 2.93 ERA in 2022 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals combined. He reached double-digit win totals with the White Sox in 2016 and 2018, with the Cubs in 2018 and 2019, and with the Brewers in 2025, underscoring his consistency as a starter.
MLB Highlights
Quintana’s first MLB victory came on May 25, 2012, against the Cleveland Indians, while pitching for the Chicago White Sox. He earned his 100th career win on September 7, 2024, against the Cincinnati Reds as a member of the New York Mets, becoming the first Colombian-born pitcher to reach the milestone. His most recent regular-season win came in 2025 with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he finished 11–7 with a 3.96 ERA.
Other Performances
In addition to his major league work, Quintana represented the Colombia national baseball team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He was slated to pitch for Colombia in the 2023 World Baseball Classic but withdrew due to a stress fracture in his rib cage, and he was later named to the Colombian roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic qualifiers in Tucson, Arizona, in March 2025.
Jose Quintana Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available details about José Quintana’s parents and immediate family in Colombia are limited. He is the first Colombian-born pitcher to reach 100 MLB wins, and his national pride has been reflected in his decision to represent Colombia in international competition.
Personal Life
José Quintana is married to his wife, Michel, and the couple has two daughters. The family resides in the Miami area, where Quintana became an American citizen in 2024. During the 2017 MLB postseason, a Chicago Cubs charter flight was diverted to Albuquerque after Michel fell ill, and Quintana still started the team’s next game.
2025 Season Performance
José Quintana joined the Milwaukee Brewers on a one-year, $4.25 million contract on March 5, 2025, after a delayed spring training. He opened the regular season at Triple-A Nashville before being recalled, and on April 11 he became the 24th pitcher in MLB history to record a win against all 30 teams. A red-hot April in which he went 4–0 with a 1.14 ERA set the tone for his Brewers tenure.
Although his ERA rose in subsequent months, Quintana remained a steady presence in the Milwaukee rotation, reaching an 11–7 record with a 3.96 ERA and 89 strikeouts across 131⅔ innings. A left calf strain in mid-September ended his regular season early, but he returned for the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs, pitching three scoreless relief innings in Game 3 at Wrigley Field. He was later added to the 40-man roster for the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Following the Brewers’ postseason run, Quintana’s contract option was declined on November 4, 2025, making him a free agent. With an All-Star appearance, 100 career wins, and the milestone of beating every MLB franchise already secured, he remains an attractive option for clubs seeking a veteran left-handed starter heading into 2026.