Yadi is going for another title, but as manager this time.
After a 19-year Major League career that included two World Series rings, nine Gold Gloves, and ten All-Star selections, Molina would have been more than welcome to take a vacation and patiently await an invitation to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
But the former Cardinals catcher’s retirement following the 2022 season signaled the start of a new chapter in his baseball career: manager.
The Bayamón, Puerto Rico, native began managing the island’s Under-23 squad in 2017 even before he hung up his spikes. After formally announcing his retirement as a player, he immediately began a new chapter in his career by managing the Criollos de Caguas in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League on the island, and Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
After his Criollos made their 2024 Caribbean Series debut with a 5-2 victory over Gigantes de Rivas, the Nicaraguan representative, Molina said on Thursday, “Every day, I am learning a little more.” That’s obviously the case with baseball. You continue to pick up new skills every day. I am content with everything that is going on in my life, and I love my position.”
Despite not being able to make it to the league final, Molina guided the Navegantes to the round-robin phase with a 29-27 record in a nation where baseball is played with unbridled passion and intense pressure from both fans and management.
Molina, who was also hired as a special assistant in the Cardinals front office, stated, “There are many things to learn and Caribbean baseball is very different from organized baseball.” “There will be more things that require our attention in the future. I believe I gained a lot of knowledge about that in Venezuela.”
Molina did not have much time to think or relax following his experience in Venezuela. He was selected as Puerto Rico’s manager for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Under his leadership, “Team Rubio” advanced to the second round before losing to Mexico in Miami, finishing with a 3-2 record.
Shortly after the World Baseball Classic, Molina was given the opportunity to manage the Criollos de Caguas — the winningest team in Puerto Rico — and the task winning the club’s 21st title.
In response, the former catcher helped his Criollos win their third championship in the previous four seasons after they defeated the Gigantes de Carolina in eight games.
Now, “Yadi” wants to finish the season with a sixth title for the Criollos in the “Little World Series of Latin America,” which would be the first since they won two titles in a row in 2017 and 2018.
In an event that includes the champions of Venezuela, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic in addition to Nicaragua, Curaçao, and Panama, the Puerto Rican team has already gotten off to a good start in Miami.
Though there is still much to be done, Molina made his point very evident in the practices prior to his arrival in Miami. In an interview with El Nuevo Día, a Puerto Rican daily, the former Cardinal declared, “We are not going there to have a good time.”
The Yadi way is that.
