Yadier Molina
Born: 7/13/1982 in Bayamon, P.R.
MLB Debut: 2004-06-03 | Final Game: 2022-10-05
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 225 lbs
Full name: Yadier Benjamin Molina
Biography
Yadier Molina, born in 1982, was a legendary catcher who played his entire career with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2004 until his retirement in 2022. Over the course of 2,226 games, he established himself as one of the premier defensive catchers in baseball history, while also contributing significantly to the offensive lineup. Molina recorded 2,168 hits, 176 home runs, and 1,022 RBIs, finishing his career with a solid batting average of .277. Additionally, he showcased his speed on the bases with 71 stolen bases, an impressive feat for a player at his position.
Molina's impact on the game extended beyond statistics; he was a 10-time All-Star and a key figure for the Cardinals during multiple postseason runs, including two World Series championships in 2006 and 2011. His leadership and ability to handle pitchers made him an invaluable asset to the team. Known for his exceptional defensive skills, Molina's agility and strong arm helped redefine the role of the modern catcher during his era. As a prominent figure in the game, Yadier Molina left an enduring legacy and is celebrated as one of the all-time greats in Major League Baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2226 | 7817 | 777 | 2168 | 408 | 7 | 176 | 1022 | 71 | 542 | 922 | 0.277 | 0.327 | 0.399 | 0.726 | -1762.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | STL | NL | 51 | 135 | 12 | 36 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 13 | 20 | 0.267 | -235.3 |
| 2005 | STL | NL | 114 | 385 | 36 | 97 | 15 | 1 | 8 | 49 | 2 | 23 | 30 | 0.252 | -1002.1 |
| 2006 | STL | NL | 129 | 417 | 29 | 90 | 26 | 0 | 6 | 49 | 1 | 26 | 41 | 0.216 | -1979.7 |
| 2007 | STL | NL | 111 | 353 | 30 | 97 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 40 | 1 | 34 | 43 | 0.275 | -401.6 |
| 2008 | STL | NL | 124 | 444 | 37 | 135 | 18 | 0 | 7 | 56 | 0 | 32 | 29 | 0.304 | -73.2 |
| 2009 | STL | NL | 140 | 481 | 45 | 141 | 23 | 1 | 6 | 54 | 9 | 50 | 39 | 0.293 | 175.3 |
| 2010 | STL | NL | 136 | 465 | 34 | 122 | 19 | 0 | 6 | 62 | 8 | 42 | 51 | 0.262 | -624.0 |
| 2011 | STL | NL | 139 | 475 | 55 | 145 | 32 | 1 | 14 | 65 | 4 | 33 | 44 | 0.305 | 1170.8 |
| 2012 | STL | NL | 138 | 505 | 65 | 159 | 28 | 0 | 22 | 76 | 12 | 45 | 55 | 0.315 | 2132.5 |
| 2013 | STL | NL | 136 | 505 | 68 | 161 | 44 | 0 | 12 | 80 | 3 | 30 | 55 | 0.319 | 1610.7 |
| 2014 | STL | NL | 110 | 404 | 40 | 114 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 38 | 1 | 28 | 55 | 0.282 | 224.7 |
| 2015 | STL | NL | 136 | 488 | 34 | 132 | 23 | 2 | 4 | 61 | 3 | 32 | 59 | 0.270 | -866.1 |
| 2016 | STL | NL | 147 | 534 | 56 | 164 | 38 | 1 | 8 | 58 | 3 | 39 | 63 | 0.307 | 789.0 |
| 2017 | STL | NL | 136 | 501 | 60 | 137 | 27 | 1 | 18 | 82 | 9 | 28 | 74 | 0.273 | -146.6 |
| 2018 | STL | NL | 123 | 459 | 55 | 120 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 74 | 4 | 29 | 66 | 0.261 | 212.1 |
| 2019 | STL | NL | 113 | 419 | 45 | 113 | 24 | 0 | 10 | 57 | 6 | 23 | 58 | 0.270 | -559.3 |
| 2020 | STL | NL | 42 | 145 | 12 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 21 | 0.262 | -261.0 |
| 2021 | STL | NL | 121 | 440 | 45 | 111 | 19 | 0 | 11 | 66 | 3 | 24 | 79 | 0.252 | -752.4 |
| 2022 | STL | NL | 80 | 262 | 19 | 56 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 40 | 0.214 | -1176.7 |
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 18.00 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | STL | NL | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 18.00 | - |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | 373 | 29 | 102 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 36 | 27 | 44 | 0.273 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | NLWC2 | SLN | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.125 |
| 2021 | NLWC | SLN | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 2020 | NLWC2 | SLN | 3 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.462 |
| 2019 | NLCS | SLN | 4 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.167 |
| 2019 | NLDS2 | SLN | 5 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0.143 |
| 2015 | NLDS1 | SLN | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.125 |
| 2014 | NLDS2 | SLN | 4 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.200 |
| 2014 | NLCS | SLN | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 |
| 2013 | NLCS | SLN | 6 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.227 |
| 2013 | WS | SLN | 6 | 23 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.304 |
| 2013 | NLDS1 | SLN | 5 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0.294 |
| 2012 | NLCS | SLN | 7 | 28 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.393 |
| 2012 | NLDS1 | SLN | 5 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0.118 |
| 2012 | NLWC | SLN | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 2011 | NLDS1 | SLN | 5 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0.211 |
| 2011 | WS | SLN | 7 | 24 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 0.333 |
| 2011 | NLCS | SLN | 6 | 24 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0.333 |
| 2009 | NLDS1 | SLN | 3 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.308 |
| 2006 | WS | SLN | 5 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0.412 |
| 2006 | NLDS2 | SLN | 4 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.308 |
| 2006 | NLCS | SLN | 7 | 23 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0.348 |
| 2005 | NLCS | SLN | 6 | 22 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.318 |
| 2005 | NLDS1 | SLN | 3 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.231 |
| 2004 | WS | SLN | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 2004 | NLCS | SLN | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 48 | 5 | 110 | 12 | 3 | 11 |
| 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C | 2184 | 2114 | 15122 | 1062 | 83 | 137 |
| P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | SLN | C | 51 | 39 | 256 | 16 | 2 | 1 |
| 2005 | SLN | C | 114 | 111 | 684 | 66 | 7 | 4 |
| 2005 | SLN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | SLN | C | 127 | 118 | 734 | 79 | 4 | 6 |
| 2006 | SLN | 1B | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 | SLN | C | 107 | 101 | 582 | 63 | 6 | 8 |
| 2007 | SLN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | SLN | C | 119 | 114 | 653 | 70 | 10 | 7 |
| 2008 | SLN | 1B | 2 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | SLN | C | 138 | 136 | 884 | 82 | 5 | 6 |
| 2009 | SLN | 1B | 6 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 | SLN | C | 135 | 130 | 895 | 79 | 5 | 10 |
| 2010 | SLN | 1B | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2011 | SLN | C | 137 | 132 | 857 | 67 | 5 | 5 |
| 2011 | SLN | 1B | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | SLN | C | 136 | 133 | 962 | 88 | 3 | 12 |
| 2012 | SLN | 1B | 3 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | SLN | C | 131 | 129 | 976 | 63 | 4 | 11 |
| 2013 | SLN | 1B | 5 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | SLN | C | 107 | 106 | 810 | 56 | 2 | 10 |
| 2014 | SLN | 1B | 1 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | SLN | C | 134 | 131 | 1064 | 56 | 7 | 9 |
| 2016 | SLN | C | 146 | 142 | 1113 | 60 | 2 | 5 |
| 2016 | SLN | 1B | 2 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | SLN | C | 133 | 133 | 1082 | 55 | 7 | 13 |
| 2017 | SLN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | SLN | C | 121 | 120 | 966 | 42 | 2 | 8 |
| 2018 | SLN | 1B | 5 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2019 | SLN | C | 111 | 108 | 916 | 30 | 1 | 5 |
| 2019 | SLN | 1B | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | SLN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | SLN | C | 42 | 42 | 307 | 16 | 5 | 1 |
| 2020 | SLN | 1B | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | SLN | C | 118 | 118 | 869 | 49 | 3 | 10 |
| 2021 | SLN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | SLN | P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | SLN | C | 77 | 71 | 512 | 25 | 3 | 6 |
| 2022 | SLN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 2 |
| Catcher | 2184 |
| First Base | 48 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Designated Hitter | 5 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Player of the Week | Week of 2019-08-31 |
| 2018 | Gold Glove | C |
| 2018 | Roberto Clemente Award | |
| 2015 | Gold Glove | C |
| 2015 | Platinum Glove | |
| 2014 | Gold Glove | C |
| 2014 | Platinum Glove | |
| 2013 | Gold Glove | C |
| 2013 | Silver Slugger | C |
| 2013 | This Year in Baseball Defensive Player of the Year | MLB.com GIBBY |
| 2012 | Gold Glove | C |
| 2012 | Platinum Glove | |
| 2012 | This Year in Baseball Defensive Player of the Year | MLB.com GIBBY |
| 2011 | Gold Glove | C |
| 2011 | Platinum Glove | |
| 2010 | Gold Glove | C |
| 2009 | Gold Glove | C |
| 2008 | Gold Glove | C |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | SLN | NL | $14,200,000 |
| 2015 | SLN | NL | $15,000,000 |
| 2014 | SLN | NL | $15,000,000 |
| 2013 | SLN | NL | $14,200,000 |
| 2012 | SLN | NL | $7,000,000 |
| 2011 | SLN | NL | $5,312,500 |
| 2010 | SLN | NL | $4,312,500 |
| 2009 | SLN | NL | $3,312,500 |
| 2008 | SLN | NL | $1,812,500 |
| 2007 | SLN | NL | $525,000 |
| 2006 | SLN | NL | $400,000 |
| 2005 | SLN | NL | $323,500 |
| Total Career Earnings | $81,398,500 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 23th | 2.0 | 420 | 0 |
| 2013 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 3rd | 219.0 | 420 | 2 |
| 2012 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 4th | 241.0 | 448 | 1 |
| 2011 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 21th | 2.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 2009 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 23th | 3.0 | 448 | 0 |