Hispanic Heritage: Yadier Molina, dean of the Puerto Rican catchers

For years Puerto Rico has been known for being the “Land of Catchers.”

In the corridors of the main baseball stadium on the Caribbean island, Estadio Hiram Bithorn, a mural highlights the trajectory of several of the main custodians of “home plate”, among them, Yadier Molina, of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Molina, who joins Hall of Fame member Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez, Javier López, Jorge Posada, Benito Santiago, Eliseo Rodríguez and Sandy Alomar Jr., is considered by many to be a future Hall of Famer.

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With impressive credentials, including nine Gold Gloves, four Platinum Gloves, 10 All-Star selections, two World Series rings and a powerful arm to stop base stealers, the Puerto Rican star has been one of the best catchers and one of the most respected of his generation.

Now in his 18th season with the Cardinals, Yadier Molina at 39 years old, is still playing at an elite level. So much so that the team agreed to a $10 million contract extension for him to stay next season.

The Puerto Rican catcher had always said he expected to retire with the Cardinals and this agreement will allow that to be the case.

“It will be my last season,” said Molina when the deal was announced in late August. “…that is what I wanted to do. That’s why my agent and I went to (the Cardinals) and said, ‘I want to stay here. I want to do (the deal) this year. ‘ It’s going to be my last year. I want to end up here in this great organization.”

Molina has been one of the bastions in the success of the Cardinals, who have reached the postseason 11 times since his rise to the majors in 2004. Currently, St. Louis is once again in contention to reach the playoffs in the second National League wild card spot.

Yadier Molina to leave as an MLB legend

When the time comes for the Puerto Rican to hang up the knee protectors in 2022, he will leave his mark on baseball as the five-year eligibility clock begins to tick for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

He will not lack credentials. Those nine Golden Gloves place him behind only Iván Rodríguez (13) and Johnny Bench (10). Behind the plate, he has led the majors in percentage of runners caught on steal attempts four times. In his career, he has shot down 40 percent of potential base stealers, while the league average is 27 percent. He makes few mistakes and his work with pitchers is outstanding. Add to that his 11 All-Star appearances, two World Series titles, and the many other milestones that reinforce his candidacy.

Molina is one of two catchers with 2,000 hits or more while on the same team, and the first in history behind the plate in 2,000 games also for one team.
When he caught his first game on June 3, 2004 against the Pirates in Pittsburgh, few would have imagined that the 22-year-old would still be settling day after day behind the plate with the Cardinals.

The Puerto Rican is only the sixth catcher to work 2,000 games or more in baseball history, currently ranking fourth with 2,099 games behind Iván Rodríguez (2,427), Carlton Fisk (2,226) and Bob Boone (2,225).

So when Molina starts his farewell tour next year, it won’t be too difficult for rival teams and his fans to give a well-deserved standing ovation to one of the greatest Cardinals in history.