Yadier Molina, Retired


Date of Birth: 7/13/1982
Birthplace: Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Yadier Molina, retired catcher, is the younger brother of former catchers Jose Molina and Bengie Molina. The youngest Molina, who was with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2004, may well be the most talented of the three, particularly in his fielding abilities. Since 2008, Molina has won nine Gold Glove awards (2008-2015, 2018). In 2014, he caught players trying to steal an amazing 47.7% of the time and he had a .998 fielding percentage.

Molina started as a backup catcher for the Cardinals in 2004, playing in just 51 games that season. The following year, he became the team's starting catcher. Molina's best season as a batter was 2013, when he batted .319, with 161 hits, 44 doubles, and 80 RBIs in 136 games. He won his first Silver Slugger award in 2013.

Molina finished the 2014 season with 114 hits, 21 doubles, and a .282 batting average in 110 games. In the postseason, he had 5 hits in 21 at-bats in 6 games.

In 2015, Molina batted .270 with 132 hits, 23 doubles, and 61 RBIs in 136 games. He again had an excellent year defensively, winning his eighth consecutive Gold Glove. He also won his fourth Rawlings Platinum Glove as the best defensive player in the National League. In 134 games as catcher, he made 56 assists, 1,064 putouts, and 7 errors. He caught players trying to steal 41.3% of the time and he had a .994 fielding percentage.

Molina had a strong offensive record in 2016, batting .307, with a career high 164 hits, 38 doubles, and 58 RBIs in 147 games. Defensively, as the Cardinals' catcher in 146 games, he made 60 assists, 1,113 putouts, and just 2 errors for a .998 fielding percentage. He caught players trying to steal only 21.2% of the time, a career low for him.

In 136 games in 2017, Molina batted .273 with 137 hits, 27 doubles, 18 home runs, a career high 82 RBIs, and 74 strikeouts to 28 walks. Defensively, as the Cardinals' catcher in 133 games, he made 55 assists, 1,082 putouts, and 7 errors. He caught players trying to steal 35.8% of the time and he had a .994 fielding percentage.

Molina finished the 2018 season with 120 hits, 20 doubles, 20 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a .261 batting average in 123 games. Defensively, as the Cardinals' catcher in 121 games, he made 42 assists, 966 putouts, and 2 errors. He caught players trying to steal 30.8% of the time.

Molina spent time on the DL in 2019 with a right thumb tendon strain. He played in 113 games and he had 113 hits, 24 doubles, 57 RBIs, 58 strikeouts to 23 walks, and a .270 batting average. Defensively, as the Cardinals' catcher in 111 games, he made 30 assists, 916 putouts, and 1 error. He caught players trying to steal 26.7% of the time and he had a .999 fielding percentage. In the postseason, he had 33 at-bats in 9 games, 5 hits, 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 3 strikeouts to 1 walk, and a .152 batting average.

Molina played in 42 games in 2020. He finished the season with 38 hits, 2 doubles, 4 home runs, 16 RBIs, 21 strikeouts to 6 walks, and a 2.62 ERA. Defensively, he was the Cardinals' catcher in 42 games.

Molina became a free agent on October 28, 2020. He re-signed with the Cardinals on February 9, 2021. He finished the 2021 season with 111 hits, 19 doubles, 11 home runs, 66 RBIs, 79 strikeouts to 24 walks, and a .252 batting average in 121 games. Defensively, as a catcher in 118 games, he made 49 assists, 869 putouts, and 3 errors. He caught players trying to steal 41% of the time. In the postseason, he had no hits in four at-bats in one game.

Molina retired on November 1, 2022.

Career batting statistics for Molina through 2021 include:

  • 2,146 games played
  • 2,112 hits
  • 400 doubles
  • 171 home runs
  • 998 RBIs
  • 882 strikeouts to 537 walks
  • .280 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Molina as a catcher through 2021 include:

  • 2,107 games played
  • 1,037 assists
  • 14,610 putouts
  • 80 errors
  • .400 caught stealing percentage
  • .995 fielding percentage

Charitable Work

Molina established Foundation 4 to aid childhood cancer victims in Puerto Rico.

Personal Life

Molina married his wife Wanda in 2007. They have one son and one daughter.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Yadier Molina
ESPN Sports - Yadier Molina