Yadier Molina Makes Highly Anticipated Return to Cardinals’ Dugout as Coach
After a legendary 19-year playing career, Yadier Molina is making his long-awaited comeback to the St. Louis Cardinals’ dugout this weekend. The 43-year-old former catcher will be donning a coach’s uniform for the first time as he joins the team for their games against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on Friday and Saturday.
According to Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, the return of Molina is sure to be a memorable and exciting experience. “I think it will be a good time,” Marmol stated, eagerly anticipating the reunion with his former teammate.
Molina wasted no time in accepting Marmol’s invitation to join him on the bench, showcasing his dedication and passion for the Cardinals organization. Fans can expect to see Molina’s wealth of knowledge and experience on full display as he takes on his new role as a coach for the team.
St. Louis Cardinals Welcome Back Yadier Molina as Guest Coach
43-Year-Old Former Catcher Joins Team for Weekend Series Against Chicago Cubs
St. Louis Cardinals fans, get ready to welcome back one of your all-time favorites. Yadier Molina, the beloved former catcher, will be returning to the Cardinals’ dugout this weekend for the first time since his 19-year playing career ended in 2022. The 43-year-old will be in uniform as a guest coach for the games against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on Friday and Saturday.
The news was announced by Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, who expressed his excitement for Molina’s return. “I think it will be a good time,” Marmol said. “Even though it’s just 48 hours, it will be a fun experience for all of us. We’ve spent some time together already, and it’s been great. I know the other guys will benefit from having him around as well.”
Molina wasted no time in accepting Marmol’s invitation to join the team as a coach. “It was great news when Oli invited me,” Molina said. “I was like, why not go over there, watch some baseball and try to help the team get better? We’ve got some young guys that really need some experience I can bring and show them. I’m happy to help.”
Molina, who rejoined the organization as a special assistant to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak in 2023, had not been at Busch Stadium since attending longtime teammate Adam Wainwright’s retirement ceremony at the end of the 2023 season. He will also be managing Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but has no plans to take on a full-time coaching position in the big leagues until after his son graduates high school.
During his brief stay in St. Louis, Molina will be working with the team’s catchers, including Yohel Pozo, who has idolized Molina since he was a young player. “When I signed with the Cardinals, I always wanted to meet him,” Pozo said. “He’s my favorite player since I was young, but now that I have him here, it’s like, oh my God. It’s like a dream come true. Having him here, I talked to him a little bit and the way he talks, the way he expresses is really nice.”
The Cardinals have struggled since Molina’s retirement, going 212-228 and failing to make the postseason. However, Molina believes the team has a bright future ahead. “You’ve got to go game by game,” he said. “We are in a position we don’t like right now. Obviously, we have to play better baseball, but I think we’re there. We’ve got the talent. I’m a fan of this team. I feel that we play the small game really well. We’re running the bases really well. The pitchers need to be more stable, but anything can happen. It happened before. We’re eight games back. That’s nothing.”
So, Cardinals fans, get ready to welcome back one of your favorites and enjoy the presence of a true legend in the dugout this weekend. Let’s hope his coaching brings some luck to the team and helps them turn their season around. Go Cardinals!
