Molina, Yadier (1982-…), known by the nickname Yadi, was one of the best players in Major League Baseball (MLB). Molina is from Puerto Rico. He was a catcher for the Saint Louis Cardinals in the National League (NL). Molina was known for clutch hitting as well as durability and toughness behind the plate. He earned nine Gold Gloves as the best defensive catcher in the National League, and he was named to 10 NL All-Star teams. Molina holds the MLB record for most games caught with one team. He was behind the plate in 2,184 Cardinals games. Molina retired from baseball in 2022.
Molina batted and threw right-handed. He became the Cardinals starting catcher after his MLB debut in June 2004. He was at first considered strictly a defensive catcher, but he improved his offense to become one of the most feared hitters in the National League. Molina hit over .300 five times, and he had more than 175 career home runs and over 1,000 runs batted in. Molina was a key part of numerous Cardinals playoff teams, including World Series champion teams in 2006 and 2011.
Yadier Benjamin Molina was born on July 13, 1982, in Bayamón, a municipality near San Juan, the Puerto Rican capital. He excelled at baseball in high school. The Cardinals selected him in the fourth round of the June 2000 MLB draft. He played in St. Louis’s minor league system before reaching the major leagues in 2004. Molina’s two older brothers were also MLB catchers. Bengie Molina played 13 MLB seasons, from 1998 to 2010. José Molina played 15 MLB seasons, from 1999 to 2014.
