Camila Sosa
It was officially announced on Saturday morning: the new manager of the Navegantes del Magallanes will be the current catcher and future Hall of Famer, Yadier Molina, starting from the next season corresponding to the years 2022-2023 in the LVBP. This will be the Puerto Rican’s first experience as manager of a professional franchise, as he is retiring from baseball as a player at the end of this Major League Baseball campaign.
Unable to reach an agreement with Wilfredo Romero, the previous coach of the squad who is now part of the Yaquis de Ciudad Obregón in the Mexican Baseball League, Molina became the main target of the current Venezuelan baseball champions and although he has no previous experience as a manager within a professional league, he managed the Puerto Rico U-23 national team in 2018.
The Navegantes were not the 39-year-old catcher’s only suitors to take the reins of the team, as the Tigres de Aragua also had the Puerto Rican veteran on their list. However, Molina was convinced by the defending champion’s proposal and the two parties agreed in a short period of time.
”I am finishing my career as a player. I have many friends in Venezuela and I know the level of players and competition in the league. They love baseball there, and that motivated me besides being the manager of Magallanes, a historic team. I am happy, thank you very much for the words of support, we will look for that championship”.
Yadier Molina in his presentation as manager of the Navegantes del Magallanes.
Molina has 18 years of MLB experience, soon to be 19 in the current 2022 season, with averages of .280/.330/.402 with 171 homers, 400 doubles, 2112 hits, 759 runs scored and 998 RBIs in a total of 2146 games played, all with the St. Louis Cardinals. The St. Louis Cardinals, who will have the definitive season in terms of retirements, also adding Albert Pujols, who will also hang up his cleats after this season.
Among the Puerto Rican’s individual awards are ten All-Star Game selections, nine Gold Gloves, one Silver Slugger and two World Series rings, corresponding to the years 2006 and 2011.
