Jose Atencio is a right-handed pitcher from Maracaibo, Venezuela, born September 18, 2001. At 25, he is working his way through the minor league ladder with his eyes set on the big leagues — and his 2026 season showed he can handle the climb.
Quick Profile
- Full name: Jose Atencio
- Position: Pitcher (RHP)
- Winter team: Cardenales de Lara (LVBP, 2026-27)
- Number: 37
- Bats / Throws: Right / Right
- Height / Weight: 5’11» / 165 lbs
- Born: September 18, 2001 — Maracaibo, Venezuela 🇻🇪
Background
Atencio grew up in Maracaibo and signed as a professional, entering the North American minor league system and working through every level of the organizational ladder. His path has taken him from the lower minors all the way to Triple-A, logging meaningful innings at each stop.
Professional Career
The 2026 season was Atencio’s most active yet. He opened the year at Single-A with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, posting a 2.40 ERA over 15.0 innings across four appearances, striking out 12 batters — a strong sign of both command and swing-and-miss stuff.
He earned a promotion to High-A with the Tri-City Dust Devils, where he did his heaviest work: 11 starts, 49.2 innings, a 3.26 ERA and 40 strikeouts. That was his most consistent stretch of the year and the level where he established himself as a reliable rotation piece.
Atencio continued ascending, reaching Double-A (Rocket City Trash Pandas) — 7.1 innings, 4.91 ERA, 4 strikeouts — and eventually Triple-A with the Salt Lake Bees, where he threw 5.1 innings with a 6.75 ERA and 5 strikeouts in three appearances. Getting a taste of Triple-A at 24 is a meaningful milestone for any pitching prospect.
Winter Ball: LVBP 2026-27
Rather than shut it down after a long season, Atencio headed home to Venezuela and joined the Cardenales de Lara in the LVBP. Through four appearances, he has logged 16.2 innings with a 4.32 ERA and 12 strikeouts. No wins or saves yet, but the point is the reps — staying sharp, competing against professional talent, and carrying momentum into 2027.
2026-27 LVBP Stats
- Team: Cardenales de Lara
- G: 4 | ERA: 4.32 | IP: 16.2 | K: 12 | W-L: 0-1 | SV: 0
Atencio is part of the deep pipeline of Venezuelan talent making noise in professional baseball. The combination of a four-level minor league run and active winter ball work puts him in a strong position heading into the next season.
