2020 Angels in review: José Quijada

The Angels claimed left-hander José Quijada off waivers from the Marlins in February, and he spent a few weeks in the majors in 2020.

Quijada missed the majority of summer camp on the injured list. The reason for his absence was unspecified by the team, a complicated issue in a year of coronavirus when MLB teams aren’t allowed to disclose non-playing medical information without consent from the player.

After about a month at the alternate training site at Long Beach State, Quijada was recalled by the Angels on August 28. He appeared in five games in his first nine days, allowing an earned run in only one game. He also took the loss in an extra-inning appearance on August 30, allowing two singles in an inning that began with a free runner on second base, charging an unearned run to his ledger.

In a tie game at Coors Field on September 11, Quijada entered in the ninth inning, with two on and one out. He struck out one and walked another to load the bases, then Charlie Blackmon hit a walk-off grand slam, the second allowed by an Angels pitcher in 2020.

Quijada was optioned the next day and didn’t pitch over the final two weeks, ending his year with a 7.36 ERA in his six games. He struck out six of his 20 batters faced in the majors this season, giving him a second straight year with a 30-percent strikeout rate.

2020 particulars

Age: 24

Stats: 7.36 ERA, 5.92 FIP, 3⅔ IP, 6 K

Salary: unknown (somewhere near the $563,500 minimum)

Game of the year

On September 6 against the Astros, Quijada struck out two of his three batters faced in a perfect inning.

Roster status

Quijada has 143 days of major league service time, and has one option year remaining.