José Quijada #40

José Gregorio Quijada (pronounced kee-HAH-dah)...Married to wife, Johanna Cabello and has a son, Heiler...Nickname is “Spicy”...Bullpen entrance video on Angel Stadium scoreboards featured flames and spicy peppers...Pitched for Caribes de Anzoategui in Venezuelan Winter League during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2020-21 offseasons...Pitched for Tiburones de La Guaira in the 2022 offseason...Favorite food is bandeja paisa from Colombia...Enjoys Sunday barbecues...Originally signed by Marlins scouts Wilmer Castillo, Albert Gonzalez and Robin Ordoñez.

2024

Began season on Angels' injured list, recovering from left elbow UCL reconstruction surgery (May 17, 2023)...Totaled nine rehab appearances between ACL Angels and Triple-A Salt Lake and pitched to a 2.35 ERA (7.2 IP - 2 ER) and 13 strikeouts...Posted a career-best 3.26 ERA (19.1 IP - 7 ER) and also matched single-season best with two winning decisions...Worked one scoreless inning in season debut with Angels on July 24 at Seattle, in first Major League outing since April 27, 2023 vs. Oakland...Did not allow a run in 17 of 22 outings for Angels, including a streak of 12 consecutive scoreless appearances (11 IP) from Aug. 14 - Sept. 18...Allowed just three hits in that span while striking out 16. 

2023

Made second career Opening Day roster with Angels...Pitched in 10 games and went 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA (9 IP - 6 ER)...Converted four of five save opportunities in 2023...Began year with 8.0 scoreless IP across first eight appearances...Missed final 135 games after being placed on injured list with left elbow inflammation on April 29.

2022

Made Angels Opening Day roster for first time in career and tied for second among Angels relievers with 52 strikeouts while ranking fourth on team with 42 appearances...Held opponents to a .172 (25/145) average, which ranked seventh among all American League pitchers (min. 40 IP)...Left-handers were held to a .115 (6/52) clip...Earned first save of year (and second of career) in Game 1 of June 28 at Seattle...Ultimately finished year with three saves...During a 17-game stretch from June 2 - July 26, pitched to a 1.53 ERA (17.2 IP - 3 ER) with 22 strikeouts...Opponents batted .136 (3/22) against his off-speed pitches...Ranked fourth in A.L., holding opponents to a .143 (8/56) average with runners in scoring position (min. 50 AB)...Missed 47 games on injured list (right oblique strain) after exiting season debut, Apr. 7 vs. HOU following his first batter faced...Pitched in three games on a rehab assignment with Low-A Inland Empire.

2021

Split year between Angels (26 G) and Triple-A Salt Lake (22 G)...Pitched in one game during each of first three stints with Angels, before spending final two months of year in Majors following fourth promotion July 30...While with Salt Lake, did not allow a run in 18 of 22 appearances and averaged 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings (29.1 IP - 37 SO)...Ranked sixth among A.L. pitchers (min. 25 IP) with a 13.32 strikeout per nine innings rate (25.2 IP - 38 SO)... Following final big league call-up, allowed one run in 9.1 innings across first 10 appearances (0.96 ERA)...Entered back-to-back games (Sept. 29 at Texas and Oct. 1 at Seattle) with no outs and two runners on base and struck out all three batters faced both times.

2020

Spent majority of season at Alternate Training Site...Made Angels debut Aug. 29 vs. Seattle, retiring his two batters faced...Allowed one earned run through first five appearances (3.1 IP) before being charged with two runs in final outing...Began year on injured list at Alternate Training Site...Reinstated while optioned, Aug. 23.

2019

Opened season with Triple-A New Orleans and made five appearances for Baby Cakes before receiving promotion to Majors, April 23... Made Major League debut with Marlins, April 24 at Cleveland (0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO)... Earned first two MLB wins in consecutive appearances (July 26 & 28 vs. Arizona)... Had scoreless appearances in 22 of 33 MLB outings...Averaged 15.93 strikeouts per nine innings with 36 strikeouts in his last 22 MLB appearances (20.1 IP)... His 55 combined appearances (33 with Miami and 22 with New Orleans) set new career high... Held opponents to a .237 (27/114) average against, with 35 strikeouts in 22 outings (29.1 IP) with New Orleans.

2018

Combined to go 2-6, 3.00 (63.0 ip/21 er) between Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A New Orleans. Set career highs in appearances (44), saves (7), and strikeouts (81)...Allowed just one run over final eight appearances (9.2 ip) for Jacksonville. Had 14 strikeouts while allowing just three hits and four walks during that stretch...Named a Midseason Southern League All-Star after posting 0-2, 2.42 (22.1/6) marks in 17 appearances for Jumbo Shrimp. Also converted four of five save opportunities...Promoted to New Orleans on June 3 and made Triple-A debut on June 5 at Las Vegas. Had two strikeouts over 1.0 scoreless inning...Had a season-high six strikeouts over 3.0 shutout innings on June 25 vs. Iowa...Allowed just one earned run over final 10 appearances after August 3. Had a 0.64 ERA (14.0/1) during that stretch, allowing four hits and striking out 14...Combined to go 1-1, 0.89 (30.2/3) in 20 home appearances. Had 42 strikeouts and was 3-for-3 in save chances.. Went 2.0-or-more innings in 14 appearances. Allowed just three earned runs over 31.0 innings (0.87 ERA) during those outings. Had 38 strikeouts and allowed just nine hits and eight walks.