spanish pronunciation born july known puerto rican professional baseball catcher major_league_baseball mlb time world series champion considered essential figure cardinals postseason success appearances seasons awards realized include seven consecutive selections star game consecutive silver award hits home runs runs batted batting average time cardinals leader games caught april coming baseball family grew puerto_rico father amateur second baseman puerto_rico older brothers major league pitch handling throwing skills originally caught attention scouts drafted cardinals fourth round selection mlb draft mlb debut years later quickly garnering reputation possessing strongest accurate arms game thrown runners attempting stolen base career led active mlb fielder positioning plans complete pitching strategies opposing hitters earning reputation field leader initially considered light hitter significantly improved offense raised career batting average career batting average postseason catcher play world series age following played puerto_rico tournaments contract early life born puerto_rico attended father played second base amateur worked tools technician hours day factory lifetime hitter time hits leader gaining election puerto rican baseball hall fame older brothers eventually major league day completed work directly went home ate dinner crossed street family home sons spent countless evening hours teaching sport remained hopeful sons professional baseball players catching showed early age developed quickly nonetheless played baseball field recalled player taken youth league draft concentrated infield positions age began developing familiar physique stood weighed pounds father sought accelerate diamond following suspension youth league age anticipated development searched alternative wishes coaches family members friends scheduled amateur league team team single immediately starting catcher baseman recommended organization played league composed mainly players years older eligible major_league_baseball draft scouting minor leagues scout starting high school observed skills closely resembled older brothers accomplished major league decided defense polished considered advanced high united_states hitting defense initial report skill set defensive catcher great arm weak bat closest comparable hitter catcher cardinals eventually placed organizational ladder future manager drafted worked cincinnati_reds spectacle stadium arm bat grabbed attention executives scouts prominent reds attended including recalled left session impression reds intended draft universal reservations offensive ceiling instead took fourth round mlb draft signed spring training following draft young catcher described raw fascination emulate turn told wife day saw kid going steal job extended spring training longtime cardinals instructor observed golf cart game learning catch transitioning base allowing passed ball legs runner base raced retrieve ball hoping prevent runner scoring instead found golf cart parked home plate reputation getting upset cardinals minor league allowed balls bounce legs removed game drove batting cage batted ground balls estimated improve young catcher ability block pitches began professional career rookie level playing total games batting advanced level seasons minor leagues highly developed offensive skills proved difficult strike mainly singles hitter favored hitting ball way batted home runs runs batted rbi strikeouts bats minor league seasons seasons threw base runners attempting steal allowing stolen bases caught stealing percentage present chance arrived incumbent went disabled list strained rib cardinals pennant winning season major_league debut june game winning hits occurred august broken bat single shallow center field ninth inning new_york_mets center fielder recognize allowing score weeks later august cardinals victorious pittsburgh pirates thanks separate plays tagged runner home plate including collision appeared regular season games batted home runs rbi plate appearances immediate impact arm throwing percent world series boston_red_sox manager elected start game swept cardinals claimed title game years following offseason signed year million contract san_francisco_giants clearing way cardinals starting catcher struggled injuries saw drop offensive performance rookie season doubled scored ahead single way hits june defeat new_york_yankees returned game absence august induced fracture left fifth bone hit pitch july starting pitcher attempting extend winning streak games august game versus san_francisco_giants found deficit ninth inning capped run home run cardinals rallied won ninth day suicide squeeze scored tying game allowing cardinals win wins way division title following wins season games posted batting average home runs rbi strikeouts plate appearances defensively registered career highs caught stealing percentage throwing according percentage ranked 26th highest time season single caught stealing percentage second highest figure figure higher time period season commenced participated inaugural world baseball classic puerto_rico returning cardinals changed jersey number regular season presented greatest offensive challenges struggled career worst batting average regular season plate appearances fact culmination year downward trend offense base plus slugging declined career worst low batting average batting average balls play normal career low game san_diego_padres park san_diego cardinals holding lead ninth picked end game end major league game nearly years cardinals faced playoff game playoffs picked time pitcher jam season caught base stealing attempts picked seven runners bat defense instrumental cardinals division crown season heavily marred injuries following playoffs marked turning point career offensive output posted composite batting average base percentage home runs rbi games cardinals reached world series batted world series landmark playoff performances came game new_york_mets final game series tied games starting ninth batted score sixth inning left fielder prevented cardinals taking lead catch near miss home run center field fence time hit run home run center field high catch gave cardinals edge ninth rookie pitcher filling emergency closer found bases loaded situation center fielder times called mound conference initially wanted changed mind suspected overthrow easy pitch hit unconventional choice calling start sequence called strike successfully got base hit scheme caused tension year catcher pitching coach throwing pitch ran contrary duncan teaching called struck looking started away bit hard low inside corner final game cardinals conquest gave return trip world series years proceeded defeat detroit_tigers games giving championship ring mask turned display baseball hall fame batting number spot batting order time career opening day collected hits game milwaukee brewers april picked prince fielder base far bag baseman hit run brewers planning days later faced brother time game san_francisco_giants time seen half years career high game hitting streak batted longest streak cardinals catcher game streak absent month june fractured left wrist inning game colorado took foul tip wrist right fielder bat missing games cardinals activated disabled list june multi error game career occurred july philadelphia_phillies catch throw span starts august hit games august hit home runs brewers career multi homer game ahead double august defeat florida week later games cincinnati_reds drove runs victory september night september versus philadelphia hits including game winning single tenth inning suffered concussion september underwent surgery repair torn right knee knee surgery ended season early september final games successfully collected hits final starts multi hit games batting average star break ranked fifth finished season new career best batting average home runs rbi games threw attempting steal highest percentage majors led mlb caught stealing rate pick offs january cardinals agreed year million deal club option fifth position starting catcher reported spring training having lost pounds improved physical shape following knee surgery started season opening day home run seven game hitting streak home plate collision june philadelphia_phillies ninth inning sustained head neck injuries removed field indications concussion held ball help cardinals win missed games point batting home runs rbi thrown career average associated_press reporter attributed decline inexperienced pitching staff returned field boston park designated hitter game solo home run provided difference cardinals victory game game hitting streaks season career start base boston occurred days later streak collected hits bats batting average second hitting streak spanned august september successfully hit times bats average september hit consecutive home runs route victory overall enjoyed breakout offensive season finishing new career highs batting average hits runs rbi franchise history season second bat fourth best season batting average strikeouts fewest times led team sixth batting average runners scoring position season successfully caught opposing higher league average led mlb seven november received gold glove award cardinal catcher win honor season commenced participated puerto_rico second event concluded returned cardinals april game arizona reached base plate appearances victory starting pitcher struggling fastball command previous starts experimented shut new_york_mets june hits erased runner throwing attempting steal second base batting home runs rbi july selected fan vote represent cardinals star game star game vote votes named starting catcher caught innings drove home run following star break july hits home runs helped cap victory pitched runners base innings august picked san_diego way victory 33rd career point rated saved team total runs career sore left knee sustained taking foul ball temporarily disabled september action october cincinnati removed game knee finished season batting average home runs rbi major league leading games caught highest franchise total total rate second lowest accumulating hit games cardinals won led major leagues second innings caught won second gold glove award season announced major league managers coaches selected magazine end season star award time career earned valuable player award mvp consideration finished tied 23rd percent vote share opening day april connected grand slam cardinals player hit opening day grand slam following april caught innings game turned productive april driving runners cardinals catcher month april drove continued productivity bases loaded month collecting hits rbi bats star break batted voted start second consecutive game second overall played innings star break hitting improved hits bats batting average game cincinnati_reds august second baseman came bat exchanged words escalated bench clearing confrontation ejected september amassed career high rbi career tying hits san_diego including doubles examination sore right knee september shut rest season missing games final batting results season consisted batting average home runs rbi ranked fourth toughest strike bats led bats stolen bases hits ranked second tops bases loaded rbi collecting hits batting average situations majors batting average counts led mlb innings games started assists led time caught stealing percentage november won fourth consecutive fielding bible award sole catcher addition player position win award unanimously perfect score days later awarded consecutive gold glove award increased offensive productivity continued help anchor middle cardinals lineup addition pitching staff defense consecutive multi hit games selected consecutive star game substituted starter played innings doubled bat hit safety consecutive games july august fewer career high july consecutive games second time career august ejected game milwaukee brewers arguing called strike umpire chest multiple times appeared spit later apologized stating intend spit umpire caught moment happens caught race trying win didn handle right way served game suspension handed mlb making contact umpire multiple times spit twice arguing cardinals stayed competitive best fringes making playoffs august august record faced game deficit braves wild card playoff berth left play provided spark offense close season batting august september 30th double september fourth catcher cardinals history reach milestone following walker cooper won games finish season allowing tie braves wild card lead going final day caught carpenter shutout final game regular season defeated braves innings giving cardinals wild card title eliminating braves playoffs games won deficit marked largest lead surrendered left play mlb history sportswriter termed comeback greatest sports history series cardinals compiled batting average doubles home runs rbi regular season batting average led cardinals eighth posted career low caught stealing percentage batting average hit totals led doubles placed second rbi batting average following tied seventh led hit games multi hit games multi rbi games making playoffs catcher franchise history appear cardinals batted milwaukee including hits final games game world series texas_rangers threw attempting steal inning way win rangers attempted steal game caught stealing gave seven total chances postseason point rangers tied cardinals steals postseason series rangers attempted steal bases successful game accumulated rbi games cardinals won series seven games giving second championship ring batted set team world series record rbi highest world series rbi total drove started games played inning playoff run including overall batted doubles rbi hits catcher postseason november won fourth consecutive gold glove award fifth catcher pennant winning club lead position league winning gold glove won glove award bestowed player league second time career won mvp consideration finished tied 21st mvp march signed year extension cardinals worth million contract included million signing bonus trade clause mutual option worth million deal second highest paid catcher majors collected tenth career hit game brewers april run home run led cardinals win mounted stolen base games season occurred august phillies career grand slam career appearance mlb game chicago_white_sox june july august maintained season best game hitting streak batted game pittsburgh park august sustained head neck injuries concussion second inning home plate collision second baseman august batted tied season progressed garnered widespread consideration award september collected career hit infield single home second inning season achievements hitter especially considering early professional scouting reports forecast bat factor major leagues set new career highs multiple offensive categories including batting average home runs rbi runs scored slugging percentage stolen bases led team batting average second straight season catcher franchise history performance wide ranked fourth batting tenth 14th tied 18th games led stolen bases set cardinals single season record ranked second rbi batting average aggressive hitter batted seven pitch total pitches ranked seventh caught stealing topped mlb caught stealing percentage ranked second tied second mlb historic perspective noted combination offensive productivity interception base runners performances history ninth mlb catcher post season weighted runs created factor percent runners caught stealing tied eighth time base runners caught stealing figures aligned peak seasons subject speculation mvp award season ultimately finished fourth winner pair finish award year history like years past awards way november won fifth straight award making cardinal win december won award defensive player year chapter named los_angeles_times report published mlb jersey sales star break october jersey ranked 18th increased profile coming conjunction offensive breakout year popularity fans game increased following fourth place mvp finish season jersey sales rose place retiring new_york_yankees closer according july report june ejected 1st base umpire throwing helmet collected doubles hit game june giving doubles season pre star break career high second highest pre star break total franchise history following thirty years earlier hit game gave career tied time list july led hits bats batting average final star game votes edged role starting catcher game held field queens new_york_city cardinals placed day disabled list july right knee time went batting thirty doubles rbi magnetic resonance image indicated structural damage knee drained excess fluid buildup given injection knee injury impacted batting average contributing late season slump september collected hits runs scored help cardinals win break slump raising batting average days later plate rookie hit innings shutout work victory actually hitter point broke high bouncing ground ball glove nationals hit game year set new career highs batting average doubles runs scored rbi hit runners scoring position season cardinals set team team record batting average finished fourth batting average second doubles sixth batting average doubles noted handling pitching staff cardinals overcame losing key pitchers early season rookie pitchers route winning competitive division title pittsburgh_pirates cincinnati reds team finished wins continuously evolving core exceeded expectations filling games started wins saves credited success large pitch calling skills guide wins franchise history cardinals squared pirates weeks removed missing hitter nearly repeated feat plate elimination game game threw pinch runner attempting steal second base eighth inning help cardinals preserve lead world series boston_red_sox ninth player expansion era franchise history appear world series club world series collected awards following season including silver award sixth place finish mvp voting winner players separately displayed sports_illustrated featured cover march issue mlb season preview article opening day day sports_illustrated published cover edition second season entry home run career accounting difference defeat reds cincinnati secured 100th win added single cardinals hits ball strike pitch relief pitcher incoming cubs outfielder game batter foul tipped pitch instead position catch glove ball hit thigh instantly ball trapping thigh rib cage held qualifying strike nearing brewers catcher aired satirical television commercial style political advertising campaign june star voting totals voice narrator posed question want catcher star star game better way cast ballot change cardinals fans need know point led vote total million second million million including took message literally advertisement creator confirmed humor meant tongue cheek stayed lead won vote starting catcher target field minneapolis minnesota sixth consecutive appearance season interrupted july pirates sliding past base attempted grab bag stay play injured right thumb revealed torn requiring surgery forcing miss weeks injury having significance impact cardinals season sportswriter commented losing best catcher world weeks torn thumb setback cardinals season ending injury point batting doubles seven rbi games led mlb caught stealing percentage returned ahead schedule seven weeks games missed injury activated august series cubs fully recovered batted september pronounced drop power production appearances fewest rookie season finished season batting average seven rbi doubles lower totals players games played caught stealing catcher era major leagues game dodgers hit pitch benches cleared attempted briefly meals mlb fined game giants collected career hit postseason passing franchise record sustained second significant injury season game left abdominal oblique muscle bat compensation swing lost power following thumb injury earlier season missing game string consecutive playoff games started stopped major league record playoff game started game world series november announced winning seventh consecutive tying having won bench won consecutive major league history won award november time award years 11th consecutive opening day start april cubs catcher club history achieve feat pirates dubious end piece mlb history lining triple play mlb history second baseman caught line drive runners threw baseman double second briefly ball hand albeit confused threw walker tag home run season games occurred june previous home run dated june july selected seventh consecutive star game played great american ball park cincinnati reds star game shared locker reds second baseman brawl cardinals reds photograph families informed locker replied phillips locker write roster introductions reds fans cardinals players selected cardinal introduced turned pointed jersey provided joined game remarked reporters spend years coming cincinnati beat times going career point hit base percentage slugging percentage career bats hitting triple years bats bases loaded provided decisive run outcome chicago_white_sox july annual managers coaches national_league rated best hit run artist best defensive catcher 100th career home run timed game winning run eighth inning stadium august win san_francisco sustaining injury left thumb september game cubs revealed partial tear preventing playing won eighth consecutive gold glove award fourth platinum glove award december revealed second surgery left thumb pushing return late spring training winner good guy award age broke cardinals time games caught record april game passing games started beginning season highest total major leagues career major league appearance loss los_angeles_dodgers playing seventh inning loss nationals park hit high infield fly stayed pitcher mound attempting catch ball waited ball glove collided moved glove caught ball hit ground recorded career hit july milwaukee 34th catcher mlb history second cardinals puerto_rico world baseball classic world baseball classic tournaments held participated puerto rican team fellow defensive standout primary catcher squad classic played games collected hits bats tournament game netherlands march eighth inning double rally puerto_rico won speaking day stated previous night double bigger thrill run homer beat game starting catcher puerto_rico earned silver medal scouted puerto_rico cardinals signed manager squad shortly learning manager contacted input constructing roster prepared classic playing games winter league team managed voted time semifinal game japan took advantage mistake record unusual batting japan eighth inning second pitching puerto_rico took pitch inside ball runners went motion retreated second charged instead throwing error held ball chased positioning second tagged caught stealing japanese later stated attempting exploit slow delivery skills profile defense pitch calling throwing hands winner consecutive widely praised preparation defense leadership pitching staff entire team fellow stated best defensive catcher baseball called best plate scout pronounced piece lose commented club lose midway season thumb injury espn tweeted missing plus months bad cardinals bad baseball period time major leagues widely viewed evolving competitive influence unofficial field coach pre game preparation studies prepares upcoming game opposing hitters creating complete pitching defensive plan preparation includes handling ground balls shortstop base extending agility blocking pitches thrown dirt according cardinals starter aspect game starters offense defense advanced defensive known defender mlb history ranked second time end season career defensive runs saved ahead list season leader year tallied career career high defensive wins replacement ranked defense highly season negative career high known game pitch calling skills pitchers rarely reject signs shows pitch stated tell young pitchers come pitch game needs find work quick study time tend follow hands reads opposing hitters subtle signs gestures align pitch calling commented instinct sense based hitter standing responds pitch creative makes adjustment based sees hitter knowing pitcher don worry bouncing ball said cardinals starter human vacuum plate thing think making pitch know going catch throw cardinals pitching coach remarked course games believe worked pitch calling thinking norm right thing time baseball estimated saved defensive runs season pitch framing moved zone pitches called strikes april june july thrown base time arizona official stated team policy existed run throws left handed batters runner view motion base studying hitters plate studies base runners watch decision making process stealing bases guarded practices moves coordinates signals indicate throw sports_illustrated poll players found toughest catcher run batting publication wrote broke majors light hitting defensive specialist hit singles pushed shed light hitter label common brothers batting stance early career accomplished hitters dip swing inability efforts time assistance teammates found comfortable stance mechanics adopted line drive style swing eliminated dip helped hit authority consistent hitter career progressed scouting reports weak bat combination improved ability pull ball hit middle improved batting average batting higher seasons line drive pull percentage increased increased pull weighted base average increased bat lineup allow respite game catching duties occasionally started base aside swinging increased line drive contact hitting authority little actually changed catcher approach trait persisted aggressive free swinging high contact hitter swung percent pitches saw reputation swinging pitches strike zone low away hands free swinging tendency naturally walk rate major_league average combined ability bat ball frequently improved approach plate increased career high single season batting average times despite batting seasons bats increased average average bats hits having season lower hit double plays reduced figure home run doubles rates increased hit career doubles awards accomplishments records mlb records consecutive playoff games started platinum glove awards won records starts catcher consecutive seasons leading team batting average catcher gold gloves won catcher runs saved catcher playoff appearances catcher playoff hits career statistical achievements note baseball league leader personal life lives puerto_rico stays illinois baseball season married wife september son named july daughter named signing million contract purchased home acre property located florida million agent represented signed professional contract cardinals shortly drafted charitable organization named foundation helped raise donations childhood cancer patients puerto_rico restaurant named milk shake called gold glove older brothers played combined seasons brothers won world series ring making trio brothers distinction won trio brothers play major leagues total nineteen brothers played including trio brothers appeared world series brothers lived united_states playing professional baseball parents stayed home near park brothers grew playing ball rivera park organized youth teams october father died heart attack moment occurred tending baseball field built youth spurred shows paid appear filed lawsuit new_york state supreme court manhattan october paid advance renewed contract july firm stated ignored agreement public private appearances sign return money source notes
Yadier Molina