José Gregorio Quijada (born November 9, 1995) is a Venezuelan

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

for the

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB). He previously played for the

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The franc ...

Professional career

Miami Marlins

Quijada was signed as an international free agent by the

on September 9, 2013. He made his professional debut in 2014 for the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League Marlins, going 5–5 with a 2.91 ERA in 74 innings. In 2015, he pitched 8 innings for the Rookie-level

Gulf Coast League Marlins The Florida Complex League Marlins are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Miami Marlins, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to the 2021 season, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Marlins. The team plays ...

, going 0–0 with a 0.00 ERA. He split the 2016 season between the Class A

Greensboro Grasshoppers The Greensboro Grasshoppers are a Minor League Baseball team based in Greensboro, North Carolina. They are members of the South Atlantic League and are the High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They play their home games at First National ...

and the

Class A-Advanced High-A (officially Class High-A, formerly known as Class A-Advanced, and sometimes abbreviated "A+" in writing) is the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Canada, below Triple-A and Double-A, and abov ...

Jupiter Hammerheads The Jupiter Hammerheads are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are located in the town of Jupiter, Florida, Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida, and play their home game ...

, accumulating a 5–2 record with a 2.32 ERA over 50 innings. His 2017 was split between Jupiter and the Double-A

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are located in Jacksonville, Florida, and are named for shrimp caught in the area. The team pla ...

, accumulating a 5–1 record with a 3.23 ERA over 55.2 innings. He split his 2018 season between Jacksonville and the Triple-A

New Orleans Baby Cakes The New Orleans Baby Cakes (formerly the New Orleans Zephyrs) were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They were located in Metairie, Louisiana, a sub ...

, going 2–6 with a 3.00 ERA over 62.1 innings. The Marlins added him to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season. He opened the 2019 season with New Orleans. On April 23, he was promoted to the major league roster for the first time. He made his major league debut on April 24, pitching of an inning in relief. His first decision was a loss to the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

on May 8 that year; he allowed a walk-off solo home run to

Jason Heyward Jason Alias Heyward (born August 9, 1989), nicknamed "J-Hey" is an American professional baseball right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals ...

in the 11th inning. He was optioned to New Orleans three days later. On February 3, 2020, Quijada was designated for assignment by the Marlins.

Los Angeles Angels

Quijada was claimed off waivers by the

on February 10, 2020. On September 11, 2020, Quijada surrendered a walk-off grand slam to

Charlie Blackmon Charles Cobb Blackmon (born July 1, 1986), nicknamed "Chuck Nazty", is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2011, as a member of the Rockies. Blackmon throw ...

of the

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fie ...

. On the year, Quijada pitched to a 7.36 ERA with 6 strikeouts in innings pitched. On July 30, 2021, the Angels recalled Quijada from the Triple-A

Salt Lake Bees The Salt Lake Bees are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. They are located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and play their home games at Smith's Ballpark. The ballpark op ...

. On October 1, 2021, in a game against a

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...

team attempting to make the playoffs for the first time in 20 years, Quijada entered the game with baserunners on first and third and no outs. He proceeded to strike out all three batters, thwarting an opportunity for Seattle to take the lead and win the game, greatly hurting the team's chances of making the playoffs. In 2021, Quijada made 26 appearances, posting an 0–2 record, 4.56 ERA, and innings pitched. In 2022, Quijada pitched in 42 games for the Angels, registering a 3.98 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 3 saves in innings of work. For the 2023 season, Quijada made 10 appearances, struggling to a 6.00 ERA with 8 strikeouts and 4 saves before he was placed on the injured list on April 29, 2023. On May 3, it was announced that Quijada would require

Tommy John surgery Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, colloquially known as Tommy John surgery (TJS), is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's bo ...

, ending his season.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quijada, Jose 1995 births Living people People from Monagas Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States Major League Baseball players from Venezuela Major League Baseball pitchers Miami Marlins players Los Angeles Angels players Dominican Summer League Marlins players Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Gulf Coast Marlins players Greensboro Grasshoppers players Jupiter Hammerheads players Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp players New Orleans Baby Cakes players Caribes de Anzoátegui players Salt Lake Bees players 2023 World Baseball Classic players