Jesús Rafael Tinoco is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Miami Marlins in Major League Baseball (MLB).
He made his MLB debut on May 31, 2019.
Throughout his career, he has played for several teams, including the Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, and Chicago Cubs, and has also had a stint in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 258 pounds, Tinoco is known for his right-handed pitching.
Siblings
Jesús has one sister named Vanessa and one brother named Jose.
He was born on April 30, 1995, in San Antonio de Maturin, Venezuela, and currently plays for the Miami Marlins in Major League Baseball (MLB) after having played for several other teams throughout his career.
Tinoco’s family background includes a rich heritage, and he has expressed a fondness for traditional Venezuelan cuisine, particularly Pabellon Venezolano.
Career
Tinoco began his professional baseball career when he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as an international free agent in September 2011.
He started his journey in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) in 2012.
Over the next few years, he worked his way through the Blue Jays’ minor league system, showcasing his potential as a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher.
Tinoco played for teams such as the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Blue Jays and the Lansing Lugnuts in Class A, where he demonstrated steady improvement and earned recognition for his pitching ability.
In July 2015, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies as part of a deal that sent veteran shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto.
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He pitched for several of their minor league affiliates, including the Modesto Nuts (Class A-Advanced) and the Hartford Yard Goats (Double-A).
During this time, Tinoco focused on refining his mechanics, improving his command, and increasing his strikeout rates.
Tinoco made his MLB debut on May 31, 2019, for the Colorado Rockies in a game against his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays.
He pitched a scoreless inning in relief, marking an important milestone in his career.
Over the next couple of seasons, Tinoco had opportunities to contribute to the Rockies’ bullpen.
After his time with the Rockies, Tinoco’s career took him to several other organizations. He joined the Texas Rangers but struggled to secure a permanent role on their roster.
In 2023, seeking new opportunities, Tinoco signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Following his stint in Japan, Tinoco returned to Major League Baseball. He briefly signed with the Kansas City Royals before being traded to the Chicago Cubs.
In mid-2024, he joined the Miami Marlins, where he currently plays.
Despite moving between teams frequently throughout his career, Tinoco has shown resilience and adaptability, maintaining his focus on improving as a pitcher and contributing wherever needed.
Accolades
Tinoco has received several accolades throughout his baseball career, showcasing his talent and potential as a pitcher.
Notably, he was selected to participate in the 2018 Futures Game, representing the Hartford Yard Goats in the Eastern League.
In addition to his Futures Game selection, Tinoco earned Player of the Month honors in August 2015 while playing for the Asheville Tourists in the South Atlantic League (SAL).
He also received Pitcher of the Week awards twice during his tenure with the Lancaster JetHawks in the California League (CAL), specifically for the weeks of May 14 and August 20, 2017.