Yadier Molina, the legendary former St. Louis Cardinals catcher, took a significant step toward his potential future as an MLB manager. This week, the future Hall of Famer was named manager of the Dominican Republic’s Aguilas Cibaeñas, a move that could pave the way for his eventual return to the majors as a skipper.
Yadier Molina’s Building Another Resume of His Own
Molina was hired after Aguilas’ bad start to the Dominican League’s season. Aguilas is the winningest team in the league’s history but started this season 2-7. Molina managed the team to a victory in his first game at the helm. The team is 3-1 since Molina took over. The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that Molina said “he was prepared to make changes and there would be ‘no excuses’ as the team became ‘committed to improving our offense starting today,'” in his first remarks as the team manager.
Molina managed team Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The team advanced out of the group stages with an upset win over the Dominican Republic. Ultimately Molina’s team lost to team Mexico in the first round of the knock-out stages.
In 2022, Molina managed Navegantes del Magallanes to the Venezuelan League playoffs with a 29-27 record. Then he managed Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rico to the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League championship in the 2023-24 season.
Managing Aguilas will be another opportunity for Molina to gain experience. The Dominican League is 71 years old and a competitive one. It could prove to be another stepping stone towards that goal.
Managing Against Another Cardinal Great
Another former Cardinal great is managing in the Dominican League as well this year. Albert Pujols is managing the league-leading Leones del Escogido. Pujols’ team is 9-3 this season.
“We are beyond thrilled to have him take the reins of Leones. His figure represents this organization very well and his presence will impact our players and the fans. He is very excited to begin his managerial career with Escogido and we hope that he will lead us to win the championship,” said Luis Rojas, general manager of Leones del Escogido and third base coach for the New York Yankees.
Pujols played for Leones in the 2021-22 season while on hiatus from MLB. He is also a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where the team plays.
Pujols and Molina will face off as managers on Nov. 5 when Leones and Aguilas are scheduled to play next. The two retired together as Cardinals after the 2022 MLB season.
Molina’s Past Career Meets New
Molina had a decorated MLB career that was highlighted by two World Series victories in 2006 and 2011. He played in two more World Series in 2004 and 2013. However, the Cardinals came short in both of those years of winning the championship. No catcher ever had more games behind the plate with one team than Molina did with the Cardinals, catching 2,224 games. He played 19 MLB seasons. In that time, he won nine gold gloves, was named an All-Star 10 times, won four platinum gloves, and one Silver Slugger Award. He finished in the top five of MVP voting twice in his career, once in 2012 and again in 2013.
Molina is the MLB all-time leader of putouts as a catcher with 15,122 and caught the fourth most games in MLB history behind only Ivan Rodriguez, Carlton Fisk and Bob Boone.
Main Photo: © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
