In this week’s announcement, Nick Quintana, a minor-league infielder for the Cincinnati Reds, revealed his retirement. The 26-year-old, originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the second round (47th overall) of the 2019 draft, decided to step away from the game due to injuries. Quintana had a collegiate baseball career at the University of Arizona before entering the professional ranks.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16315163/azbaseball.jpg)
Following the cancellation of the 2020 minor-league season due to COVID-19, Quintana faced difficulties in regaining momentum. Subsequently, the Tigers traded him to the Reds in exchange for catcher Tucker Barnhart after the conclusion of the 2021 season.
Quintana’s tenure with the Reds saw him not progressing beyond the Class AA level. His performance in 2023 with Double-A Chattanooga reflected a struggle, as he managed only a .135 batting average in 137 plate appearances.
However, despite the setback with Quintana, the Tigers can find solace in their overall success in the 2019 draft. Notably, six players from that draft class are currently part of the 40-man roster. This includes outfielders Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter, infielder Andre Lipcius, and right-handed pitchers Beau Brieske and Brendan White. Despite Quintana’s challenges, the Tigers still have a solid foundation from their 2019 draft.
