Carlos José Quentin (born August 28, 1982) is an American former professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
outfielder
An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to catch ...
. He played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB) for the
Arizona Diamondbacks,
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...
and
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
. In 2008 and 2011, Quentin was selected as an
All-Star.
Early life
Quentin attended
Saint Pius X Elementary School (
Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista ( ; , ) is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. It is the second-most populous city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the Largest cities in Southern California, seventh-most populous city in Southern California ...
).
At
University of San Diego High School, he was a three-sport athlete, playing baseball, football, and basketball. He led his baseball team to two Western League Championships, while setting a record at the school with 28 home runs and 119 RBIs. In football his senior year, he was selected First Team All-County, All-CIF, and All-Western League, and was named Western League Defensive Player of the Year as an
outside linebacker. He also captured two league and two section titles. In addition, he participated on the 1997 high school state championship team in basketball. He was named the San Diego Male Athlete of the Year in 2000. Aside from sports, he was on his school
honor roll. He lost the USDHS Senior Year Best Athlete award to his high school classmate Mark Pfizenmayer.
College career
Quentin attended
Stanford University
Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...
, where he was named All
Pac-10 the three seasons he played (freshman, sophomore and junior). He was honored by ''
Baseball America'' magazine all three seasons as well. He was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2001. In his junior season (2003), he was named Third Team All-American by the
NCBWA and was one of five finalists for the
Golden Spikes Award.
He played alongside future major leaguers
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
outfielder
Sam Fuld and
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
middle infielder
Jed Lowrie. In a game against the
Florida State Seminoles baseball team on February 9, 2002, Quentin was
hit by a pitch five times, a college baseball record.
Quentin helped lead the Cardinal to postseason appearances all three years of his collegiate career, culminating in a 2-for-2, 2-RBI performance in Stanford's 2003
College World Series
The College World Series (CWS), officially the NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS), is a baseball tournament held each June in Omaha, Nebraska. It is the culmination of the NCAA Division I baseball tournament—featuring 64 teams in the ...
Championship Series Game 3 loss to
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University, is a Private university, private research university in Houston, Houston, Texas, United States. Established in 1912, the university spans 300 acres.
Rice University comp ...
. He finished his Stanford career with a .350 batting average, 35 home runs, 170 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases in 199 games played for the Cardinal.
Professional career
Minor leagues
Quentin was drafted by the
Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round (29th overall) of the
2003 Major League Baseball Draft. He sat out that year after undergoing
Tommy John surgery on his right elbow (a rare procedure for non-pitchers). Once recovered, he quickly became part of a talented core of young Diamondbacks prospects.
Quentin set a minor-league record in 2004 when he was hit by a pitch 43 times. That season, he led all Arizona minor league players in batting (.332), RBIs (91), runs (103), hits (157), and walks (69), numbers that were divided between Single-A
Lancaster and Double-A
El Paso.
He also starred on a TV show chronicling the life of a minor leaguer with Chris Young and
Dustin Nippert.
Arizona Diamondbacks
2006
Quentin was hitting .290 with 30 doubles, three triples, nine homers and 52 RBI in 85 games for the
Tucson Sidewinders when he was called up to the Diamondbacks on July 20, 2006. After grounding out in his first two major league at bats, Quentin hit a two-run home run off
Mark Hendrickson in the sixth inning of Arizona's 5–2 win over the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
. His arrival was long anticipated by Diamondbacks fans; he was expected to replace
Shawn Green as the everyday right fielder for the Diamondbacks once Green retired or otherwise left the team. Green was traded to the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
in August, clearing the way for Quentin to become a full-time starter. Quentin would finish the 2006 season with a .253 batting average, nine home runs, and 32 RBI in 57 games for the Diamondbacks.
2007
Quentin began the season on the
disabled list when he was diagnosed with a partial tear of his left labrum during
Spring Training
Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...
. He made his season debut on April 16 against the Dodgers and finished 2-for-4 with two doubles. After producing disappointing results through the first half of the season (.210, five home runs, 28 RBI in 66 games), Quentin was demoted to Triple-A on July 6.
Chicago White Sox

On December 3, 2007, Quentin was traded to the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...
for minor league first baseman
Chris Carter.
Carter played for the Single-A
Kannapolis Intimidators in 2007, and was considered one of the White Sox' best prospects.
2008
In 2008, Quentin was a huge surprise for the White Sox, emerging to become one of the team's best hitters. Through August 18, he was ranking among
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is the younger of two sports leagues, leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western L ...
leaders in home runs (first, 35),
slugging percentage (third, .586),
OPS (third, .981), and runs batted in (third, 96). Quentin's strong season drew calls for a possible AL
MVP award. Prior to a game against the
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners 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 ...
on August 18, White Sox catcher
A. J. Pierzynski said, "As far as I'm concerned, Quentin has been the American League MVP." In the game, Quentin hit his 35th home run of the season in a 13–5 rout of the Mariners.
In August 2008, Quentin set a Major League record by being
hit by a pitch in six consecutive games. , no other player has been hit by a pitch in more than five straight games.
Due to
Jim Thome's slow start, manager
Ozzie Guillén promoted the red-hot Quentin up the
batting order into Thome's customary third spot for Chicago's game on May 14 against the
Angels in Anaheim. Quentin delivered a key eighth-inning
grand slam, breaking a 1–1 tie, and kicked off a run that saw the White Sox win 10 of 12 games and charge to first place. He stayed in the third spot in the order thereafter. During a nationally televised home game on May 25, Quentin clocked two home runs off of the Angels'
John Lackey and drove in all of the White Sox runs in a 3–2
walk-off victory.
His towering home runs drew comparisons to sluggers such as
José Canseco and
Luis Gonzalez. Angels center fielder
Torii Hunter
Torii Kedar Hunter (; born July 18, 1975) is an American former professional baseball center fielder and right fielder. Hunter currently serves as Special Assistant to Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian. He played in Major League ...
characterized his pure power as "tremendous pop, like
Hulk Hogan
Terry Gene Bollea (; born August 11, 1953), better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE as a brand ambassador. Known for his flamboyance and massive physiq ...
. He's crazy strong."
Quentin injured his wrist after slamming his bat with his wrist in frustration after fouling off a pitch in Cleveland. On September 5, 2008, it was reported that Quentin had a fractured wrist and would undergo surgery, missing the rest of the season.
Quentin finished the year with a .288 average, 36 home runs, 100 RBI, and a .394 on-base percentage in 130 games.
Defensively, in 2008 he had the lowest
fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a baseball positions, defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball. It is calculated by the sum of putout ...
of all starting AL left fielders, .971. Even though he missed the last month of the season, Quentin was awarded his first
Silver Slugger Award
The Silver Slugger Award has been awarded annually since 1980 to the best Batting (baseball), offensive player at each Baseball positions, position in both the American League (AL) and the National League (baseball), National League (NL), as determ ...
.
Quentin finished fifth in the balloting for AL MVP, behind
Dustin Pedroia,
Justin Morneau,
Kevin Youkilis, and
Joe Mauer.
2009
Quentin played well at the start of the 2009 season but he hit a slump after suffering from
plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis or plantar heel pain is a disorder of the plantar fascia, which is the connective tissue that supports the Arches of the foot, arch of the foot. It results in pain in the heel and Sole (foot), bottom of the foot that is usuall ...
which hampered his swing. He was forced to miss several games in May as a result of the injury and was eventually placed on the 15-day disabled list at the end of the month. He was activated again on July 20 after a minor league rehabilitation assignment, and was able to remain with the big league club through the remainder of the year. In 99 games on the season, Quentin hit .236 with 21 home runs, 56 RBI and a .779
on-base plus slugging percentage.
In 2009, he was named #40 on the ''
Sporting News
''The Sporting News'' is a website and former magazine publication owned by Sporting News Holdings, which is a U.S.-based sports media company formed in December 2020 by a private investor consortium. It was originally established in 1886 as a ...
list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball. A panel of 100 baseball people, many of them members of the
Baseball Hall of Fame and winners of major baseball awards, was polled to arrive at the list.
2010
Quentin moved from left field to right field for 2010 as the White Sox acquired
Juan Pierre to play left and right fielder
Jermaine Dye became a free agent. Quentin was mired in a batting slump for a good portion of the first half of the season. On June 13, he was hitting .201 with eight home runs through 55 games. He began turning things around with a late-June hot streak which coincided with a White Sox 11-game win streak, hitting four homers and raising his
OPS from .681 to .781. In early July, Quentin had a two-home run game against the
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...
followed shortly by back-to-back two-homer games on July 10 and 11 against the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
, including a grand slam in the second game. Quentin entered the 2010 All-Star break batting .244 with a .867 OPS, 19 home runs and 61 RBI, placing him among the American League leaders in both home runs and RBIs. He finished the season hitting .243 with 26 homers and 87 RBI in 131 games.
2011
Quentin was selected to his second
All-Star Game
An all-star game is an exhibition game that showcases the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or division, bu ...
as a reserve after posting an .852 OPS in the first half.
Quentin sprained his left shoulder making a diving catch on August 20 and only made two more plate appearances in 2011. Quentin finished the season batting .254 with 24 home runs and 77 RBI. He drew 34 walks, posted a .499 slugging percentage, and had a career-high 31 doubles through 118 games.
In 2011, Quentin led the Major Leagues in being
hit by pitch, with 23.
San Diego Padres
On December 31, 2011, Quentin was traded from the White Sox to his home town
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
for
Simón Castro and
Pedro Hernández.
2012
Quentin opened the
2012 season on the disabled list after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair a torn meniscus in March. He made his Padres debut on May 28, regularly batting in the clean-up position and playing left field or acting as DH in interleague games.
On July 22, 2012, Quentin agreed to a three-year, $27 million contract extension through 2015 with a $10 million mutual option for 2016, including a no-trade clause. "This is an amazing opportunity to stay and play in the city I grew up in." said Quentin.
Quentin's right knee began to bother him in September, and he only played in the field once after September 10. He had another arthroscopic surgery on the right knee after the season ended.
Quentin played in a total of 86 games and finished the season batting .261/.374/.504 with 16 home runs and 46 RBI in 284 at-bats.
Despite playing only half a season, he once again led the league in being hit by pitch, setting a Padres season record with 17.
2013
Quentin was still recovering from his knee surgery as the
2013 season began, and he was limited to four games and 14 at-bats in
spring training
Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...
.
The Padres limited his play in the field early to rest the knee.
On April 11 in a game against the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
, Quentin was hit in the shoulder by a pitch thrown by
Zack Greinke. Quentin
charged the mound, igniting a
bench-clearing brawl
A bench-clearing brawl is a form of fighting that occurs in sports, most notably baseball and ice hockey, where most or all players on both teams leave their Dugout (baseball), dugouts, bullpens, or benches, and charge onto the playing area in or ...
in which Greinke's collarbone was fractured. Quentin was suspended for eight games for his role in the incident.
Quentin left a July 30 game early after tweaking his right knee on a swing.
The game ended up being Quentin's final game of the 2013 season, as he was placed on the disabled list on August 10 and later decided to have surgery to clean up the knee to be ready for 2014. He had the surgery on September 3 and was encouraged by the results, calling it "the best of the three".
For the season, Quentin batted .275 with 13 home runs, 44 RBI and an .855 OPS in 82 games.
2014
Quentin began the season on the disabled list as he recovered from knee surgery from the previous season, and was activated on May 13. Upon return, Quentin struggled mightily offensively, hitting just .177 through 50 games. He was placed on the disabled list on July 26 due to a sore knee. The injury ended his season and his three-year tenure with the Padres.
Atlanta Braves
On April 5, 2015, Quentin was traded to the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
along with
Cameron Maybin,
Matt Wisler, and Jordan Paroubeck, for
Craig Kimbrel and
Melvin Upton Jr. The Braves designated him for assignment later that day, and released him on April 14.
Seattle Mariners
Quentin signed a minor league deal with the
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners 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 ...
on April 22, 2015, and was assigned to the
Tacoma Rainiers. On May 1, 2015, Quentin announced his retirement.
Minnesota Twins
On February 2, 2016, Quentin came out of retirement and signed a minor league contract with the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
. On March 28, he asked for his release from the Twins after refusing an assignment to their minor league camp.
Pericos de Puebla
On July 12, 2016, Quentin came out of retirement to join the
Mexican League and signed with the top team in the league, the
Pericos de Puebla, playing under manager
Cory Snyder. In 21 games he struggled hitting .211/.305/.465 with 5 home runs and 14 RBIs.
Boston Red Sox
On February 8, 2017, Quentin signed a Minor League deal with the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
. He was released at the end of Spring Training.
Acereros de Monclova
On July 11, 2017, Quentin signed with the
Acereros de Monclova of the
Mexican Baseball League. He became a free agent following the 2017 season. In 13 games he struggled hitting .212/.350/.424 with 2 home runs and 15 RBIs.
Personal life
Quentin is married to Jeane Goff, an All-American track and field athlete from Stanford University. His wife gave birth to their first son, Clarke, in 2013.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quentin, Carlos
1982 births
Living people
Acereros de Monclova players
American baseball players of Mexican descent
American expatriate baseball players in Mexico
American League All-Stars
Arizona Diamondbacks players
Baseball players from San Diego
Charlotte Knights players
Chicago White Sox players
El Paso Chihuahuas players
El Paso Diablos players
Kannapolis Intimidators players
Lake Elsinore Storm players
Lancaster JetHawks players
Major League Baseball right fielders
Mexican League baseball left fielders
Mexican League baseball right fielders
Pericos de Puebla players
San Diego Padres players
Scottsdale Scorpions players
Silver Slugger Award winners
Baseball players from Bellflower, California
Baseball players from Chula Vista, California
Stanford Cardinal baseball players
Tacoma Rainiers players
Tucson Sidewinders players
Tucson Padres players
University of San Diego High School alumni