Jose Quintana

Lore & Background

Quintana signed with the White Sox on November 10, 2011, receiving a major league contract. He made his MLB debut on May 7, 2012, as a starting pitcher in the first game of a doubleheader, pitching 5+2⁄3 innings in relief. He was named an All-Star in 2016. The White Sox named him their Opening Day starting pitcher for the 2017 season. On July 13, 2017, the White Sox traded Quintana to the Chicago Cubs for prospects Eloy Jiménez, Dylan Cease, Matt Rose, and Bryant Flete.

In Their Own Story

The seventh-inning line drive off the bat of a visiting slugger clatters into the gap, and the manager is already walking toward the mound, pointing. Quintana is already in the dirt, glove on, fingers working the ball between his fingers. The crowd noise is a low roar, a wall of sound that swallows the words the catcher is calling. He steps into the box, sets his foot, and the first pitch is a fastball that breaks just enough to make the next hitter chase. Two more pitches, a ground ball to short, a throw to first, and he is already walking back to the dugout, towel over his neck, the pinstripes still damp with the August humidity. Nobody will remember his name. The scoreboard will show a hold. The manager will give a small nod. And that is enough. That has always been enough.

Reader's Guide

Quintana was primarily a starting pitcher for the White Sox. In 2012, he appeared in 25 games making 22 starts. In 2013, he pitched 200 innings in 33 starts. In 2014, he made 32 starts. In 2015, he made 32 starts. In 2016, he made 32 starts. He was named the Opening Day starter for the 2017 season.

Did You Know?

• Quintana was named an All-Star in 2016 as an injury replacement for Danny Salazar.
• In 2015, Quintana led all major league pitchers in curveball percentage (30.9%).
• Quintana's 17 no decisions in 2013 were the most among MLB starting pitchers that season.