José Quintana
A crafty and durable left-handed pitcher who journeyed through nearly a third of MLB teams with steady, understated excellence.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Colombian baseball player·Birthday: January 24·Millennials
Biography
José Quintana's career is a testament to the quiet workhorse. Signed out of Colombia by the New York Mets, he was released and then rediscovered by the Chicago White Sox, where he blossomed into one of the American League's most reliable starters. With a sharp curveball and pinpoint control, he consistently logged 200-inning seasons, a rarity in modern baseball. His trade across town to the Cubs in 2017 was a blockbuster, and he delivered crucial playoff innings. Quintana's journey became a tour of baseball, with stops from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh to St. Louis, where he reinvented himself as a veteran stabilizer. In 2023, he made a triumphant return from heart surgery, pitching effectively for the Mets. His path underscores the value of a pitcher who simply takes the ball and competes, year after year.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
José was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When José Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
José's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Pitched over 200 innings in a season four times during his career, highlighting his durability.
- Finished in the top 10 in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2016 with the Chicago White Sox.
- Made his first MLB All-Star team in 2016 as a member of the White Sox.
- Started Game 1 of the 2017 National League Championship Series for the Chicago Cubs.
Did You Know?
He was originally signed by the New York Mets as an international free agent in 2006 but was released in 2008.
Quintana underwent emergency heart surgery in 2022 to repair a defect and returned to pitch in the majors the same year.
He is one of the most successful MLB pitchers to come from Colombia.
He made his MLB debut in 2012 with the Chicago White Sox against his original team, the Mets.
“I have to be ready every fifth day; that's my job for the team.”
