Jose Molina

José Benjamin Matta Molina is a Puerto Rican professional baseball player currently signed as a catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born June 3, 1975, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Molina has siblings currently playing in the Major League: an older brother Bengie Molina and a younger brother Yadier Molina.

Molina was drafted into the Major League by the Chicago Cubs during the 1993 Amateur Baseball Draft. He suited up for his first Major League game on September 6, 1999 for the Chicago Cubs and appeared in 10 more games.

In 2001, Molina became a free agent and signed with the Anaheim Angels (later Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim). He helped the Angels win the 2002 World Series over the San Francisco Giants in seven games. Subsequently, the Molina brothers became the only three brothers in MLB to each have World Series championship rings (Jose and Bengie won in 2002, Yadier won his in 2006).

In 2007, Molina was traded to the New York Yankees. He again appeared in the 2009 World Series where he helped the Yankees triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies in four games to two, earning his second championship ring.

On February 19, 2010, Molina signed a one year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Molina graduated from Masetro Ladi High School in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico in 1993, and attended Ladislao Martinez High School in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. He is currently married to Yalicia.

Professional Career

Chicago Cubs (1999 - 2001)

Molina was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 14th round of the 1993 amateur draft. Molina's first major league team was the Cubs, for which he played 10 games in 1999.


Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2001 - 2007)

He joined the then-Anaheim Angels in 2001 as a free agent, but played only a handful of games before establishing himself during the 2002 season as the Angels backup catcher for his brother, Bengie.

In 2005, Molina hit a career-best six home runs, and tied his career-high with 25 RBI, as he hit .306 against lefties.

Following Bengie's departure from the Angels, José Molina entered the 2006 season as the Angels' new starting catcher, though it was expected that rookie Jeff Mathis would also see substantial time handling the team's catching duties over the course of the season. Mathis struggled during the first month of the season, however, and was demoted to the minor leagues. Molina himself then struggled offensively, and the promising offensive performance of Mathis' replacement on the roster, rookie Mike Napoli, once again relegated Molina to the role of backup catcher. Still, Molina played in a career-high 78 games and had a career-best 225 at-bats in 2006.


New York Yankees (2007 - 2009)

On July 21, 2007, Molina was traded to the New York Yankees for minor league pitcher Jeff Kennard. At the time of the trade, he had a .237 lifetime batting average, but had hit lefties much better (.269). He would go on to hit .318 for the Yankees with 1 home run.

On December 3, 2007, the Yankees signed Molina to a two-year deal. He served as the team's starting catcher following a shoulder injury to Jorge Posada, but returned to the backup role when the Yankees acquired Iván Rodríguez.

On September 21, 2008, Molina hit the last home run in the original Yankee Stadium, in the Yankees' final game at the ballpark, which was against the Baltimore Orioles. Following this event, he expressed satisfaction after closing the question presented by Babe Ruth in his last public speech at the facility, which closed by stating "Only God knows who will hit the last." Molina was successful in eight of nine sacrifice bunt attempts in 2008.

In 2009, Molina again served as the Yankees' primary backup catcher, catching most of A.J. Burnett's games when possible and hitting .219 in 138 at bats (52 games). On October 29, 2009 in Game two of the 2009 World Series, he picked off Jayson Werth at first base becoming the first Yankees catcher to do so since Yogi Berra who did the same in the 1950 World Series, also against the Philadelphia Phillies.


Toronto Blue Jays (2010 - present)

On February 19, 2010, Molina signed a 1 year contract that includes an option for 2011 with the Toronto Blue Jays.