Yadier Molina is back in a Cardinals uniform this spring-but this time, it’s with a new title and a different kind of impact. The longtime St. Louis catcher, a franchise icon with two decades of experience behind the plate, is stepping into a hybrid role that bridges his past as a player with his future in leadership.
Molina will be in camp with the Cardinals for the first week of spring training before he shifts gears to manage Team Puerto Rico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. But his time with the Cardinals won’t end there. Once the WBC wraps up, Molina is expected to return to the club and be in the dugout for several series throughout the regular season, continuing the part-time role he held last year.
This isn’t just a ceremonial return for a fan favorite. Molina’s presence carries weight in the clubhouse, especially among the team’s catchers and young players. His ability to mentor from experience-both as a nine-time Gold Glove winner and as someone who understands the grind of a 162-game season-is invaluable for a Cardinals squad looking to rebound after a disappointing 78-84 finish that landed them fourth in the NL Central.
Manager Oli Marmol confirmed that Molina will be in uniform for the first full-squad workout, signaling that this is more than just a goodwill appearance. It’s a hands-on role, and one that could help shape the team’s identity early in camp. Molina’s influence will extend beyond the big-league dugout as well-he’s expected to make trips to minor league affiliates during the season, offering guidance to the next wave of Cardinals talent.
And he won’t be the only familiar face around camp. Former teammates Adam Wainwright and David Freese are also expected to visit this spring, lending their voices and experience to a team that’s trying to re-establish the winning culture that defined much of the last two decades.
For Molina, managing Puerto Rico on the international stage is another step in his post-playing journey. But make no mistake-his heart is still very much in St.
Louis. Whether it’s calling shots from the dugout or working one-on-one with the next generation of Cardinals catchers, Molina’s fingerprints will be all over this team in 2026.
And for a club looking to get back on track, that’s a welcome sight.