9:55am: Molina will miss at least four weeks after suffering a “pelvic injury with traumatic hematoma,” the Cardinals announced (Twitter links via Joe Trezza of MLB.com). They’ve placed him on the DL and recalled Kelly. The club also recalled reliever Mike Mayers, who will take Dominic Leone’s place. Leone is headed to the DL with “right arm upper nerve irritation.”
8:11am: Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina underwent surgery Saturday after being hit in the groin by a foul tip, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak confirmed to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cardinals are now expected to go without Molina for at least a month.
Molina suffered the injury during the Cardinals’ victory over the Cubs, which was St. Louis’ fourth straight win to open the month of May. The Cardinals, now 19-12, own a half-game lead over the Brewers in what has been a rather competitive NL Central to this point. As usual, their success has come thanks in part to the revered Molina, who has slashed .272/.292/.456 (103 wRC+) with six home runs in 120 plate appearances. Behind the plate, the 35-year-old Molina has ranked as one of the game’s top pitch framers in the early going, and has helped the Cardinals’ staff to the majors’ fourth-best ERA (3.36).
While Molina has been eminently durable during what could be a Hall of Fame career, this injury may help lead to his lowest games played total since 2014, when he appeared in 110 contests. He has otherwise seen action in at least 136 games in each season since 2009. The Cardinals aren’t exactly accustomed to life without Molina, then, though they’ll have to make do with their reserve backstops for at least a few weeks.
Without Molina, it seems likely St. Louis will go forward with the 28-year-old Francisco Pena and the well-regarded Carson Kelly, 23, the only other catchers on its 40-man roster. The Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate scratched Kelly from its game Saturday, Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch tweeted then, indicating he’s on his way back to the majors after logging a combined 89 PAs at the game’s highest level from 2016-17.
stevebaratta
Foul tip off the bat of ?
papa fraunch
Bryant
Nbaer80
102 mph off of Kris Bryant
themed
Actually it was a foul ball off Bryant. The 102 came from Jordan Hicks.
stollcm
Doesn’t surprise me. I was at the game and he was down for a while. He’s tough and for him to be down as long as he was….geez. I can only imagine…. get well Molina!!
woodguy
Well shoot!!! Best of luck and a speedy recovery to Yadi
tim815
As an aside, the Cardinals are in danger of having to DFA someone if Kelly or Pena are unable to go, even for a few games.
Unless one of their other options are “better than average” at being an emergency catcher.
stollcm
Let’s just hope one of the other two don’t go down in the next month. If they do, you are exactly correct.
justin-turner overdrive
“someone” = Luke Voit
hollidayfever
Kelly is already a finished defensive product and will be fine batting 8th in the lineup for a month. No roster move is even remotely necessary.
cygnus2112
Talk about bustin’ a nut! Jeez Louise…
troll
double nutted
bledrules
As much as I hate Molina that’s gotta hurt
STLCards33
Yeah it’s real easy to hate greatness
jdgoat
I also don’t like him but he does have an arrogance to him. That and the fact that he is vastly overrated.
jdgoat
Also I hope he recovers completely. I don’t want this to leave it at why I dislike him because that’s not what matters right now
justinept
I wouldn’t call him overrated, but he’s definitely living off his past greatness. He’s not a top5 catcher anymore. His defense has regressed significantly and his bat is average. Great career, though. Sure-fire HOFer. Will say that my one issue with Yadier is that he seems to get preferential treatment from umps. Anyone else puts their hands on an ump like he did earlier this year, and they’re suspended for 3-4 games. He didn’t even get a fine.
brucewayne
Overated my ass! Your inane comments are overated drivel .
davidcoonce74
You think he is a sure-fire HoFer? Just on defense? He put together a few good offensive seasons, but he’s been a slightly below-average hitter in his career (but good for a catcher) and there’s some World Series’ in there. He has 1700 career hits, which I think would be the lowest total for a hitter selected solely for his offense in he modern era. If he gets in easily it will be a surprise but I bet the defense will get him there.
jdgoat
How isn’t he bruce?
Rob B
Because the haters said St Louis would regret the last contract they gave him and they most certainly do not. Yadi is clutch, he is the captain on D and should have a C on his jersey. He deserves HOF status just for overcoming all his haters over the years … if your team had him you would love him ‘nuff said!
themed
He’s been one of the best for years idiot! Mr know nothing about the game of baseball!
Bryzzo2016
Average bat, well above average on EVERYTHING else, especially as a leader. I got a ton of respect for him, definitely not “overrated”. Their pitching staff is gonna miss him more than their lineup will. The problem is they don’t have a legit back up and Kelly is not ready for the bigs yet. Either way, I hope Yadi fully recovers.
bskalski
I don’t see him getting into the Hall. He’s been a very very good player and I see why Cardinals fans like him. But he’s kind of like Posada. Posada had better power numbers though. Molina is definitely better defensively. But if Posada doesn’t make it in, which I can’t see happening, then Molina doesn’t make it in either in my opinion
themed
He’ll be a first time unanimous Hall of Famer! No doubter.
bigfudge
How many gold gloves did Posada win? Sure, he had more home runs. Yadi beats him in hits and average. But when it comes down to it, Yadi has the individual hardware to absolutely blow Posada out of the water.
MB923
Player A – 6092 AB, .273/.374/.474/.848, 121 OPS+, 42.8 WAR,
Player B – 6206 ab, .284/.335/..404/.739, 98 OPS+, 37.4 WAR
Player A is Posada. Player B is Molina.
You want the hits and average? By all means, I”ll take the higher OBP, Slugging, OPS, OPS+ and WAR.
tv 2
agree. He was elite a few but not in a while. He has not had good d in longer
tv 2
lol ya he is sitting the bench now. Way way over paid
tv 2
you mean below average defense.
brucewayne
His intangibles alone make him very valuable to the team . What he does with the whole pitching staff is incredible
brucewayne
and he’s like another coach on the field . Of course he’s not a big power guy, but what he brings to all the other facets of the game makes him the most valuable player on the team !
cygnus2112
For real though, what’s Cameron Rupp up to nowadays?
Monkey’s Uncle
Playing for the Rangers’ AAA team. Not sure what Texas catching depth is like so don’t know if he could be realistically acquired or not.
davidcoonce74
Yeah, that looked bad. I know he was wearing a cup but it looked like it’s possible, in replays, that perhaps one of his…uh….guys had slipped out of the cup and was hit directly by the baseball. I remember this happened to Michael Barrett a few years back and he had to have emergency surgery on one of his…uh….guys to stop internal bleeding.
hunsley2
Think hes going to frame them balls?
tbone0816
If I was the Cardinals I would sign a free agent catcher for depth. I know we have Carson Kelly but a free agent with big league experience wouldn’t be a bad thing.
CompanyAssassin
Francisco pena is that
Monkey’s Uncle
Pirate fan here but I have nothing but respect for Molina. He’s a guy who anyone should wish was on their team, a great talent, leader and warrior. Tough break for the Cards.
cards81
We are really going to see the Cardinals depth now…but it’s one of the great things about them…always having somebody stepping up…the #2 catching prospect in MLB will do…get better Molina
Elvis Prestello
Aw nuts
Cubbie75
I am so sorry to see this. I do not wish this on anyone even if he is our rival. He’s a terrific baseball player and I hope things go as well as possible for him.
DigirolamoDan6194
I hope he still has everything attached and working down there or hopefully hes got the kids already. This looked as painful as Stephen Vogts a couple years ago…
Wishing Yadi a speedy recovery
southbeachbully
That looked SOOOOO painful. I smashed my cookies slipping on black ice and the pain was incredible and you never truly understand how much your core area is used in everything you do. I was out of it for weeks. Good luck Yadier? Yeesh.
Kycubfan
Don’t like him never will.hope he is out forever. But I wish him no lasting issues.
simschifan
So you don’t like him and hope his career ends? That’s classy
Kycubfan
How is me hoping he never comes back, but not because of injury bad. I think it shows respect.
Felt the same about Brett Favre. Funny now that he has retired I love him.
themed
Been in 4 World Series and had 2 rings. First class act. Get over your cub jealousy as usual.
Rob B
You wish him no lasting issues but hope he is out forever? Why would he be out forever then. Clearly, you couldn’t help but say the ignorant crap that was on your mind and thought you were clever enough to do so without coming off as a complete douche. You are not clever and have achieved true douche status.
brucewayne
What else would it be but the injury to keep him out forever ? Do the world a favor
brucewayne
and don’t breed anymore heathens such as yourself !
brucewayne
You are a major douche bag for wishing a career ending injury on any player! I can’t stand the Cubs with fiery passion , but I wouldn’t wish anything like that to any player at all !
c1234
Isn’t knisner always an option for a backup if one goes down?
cards81
He’s not on the 40 man roster
c1234
darn, couldn’t he be added though?
tim815
Yes, he could. Which starts his clock.
Codeeg
It starts his options. Which would only make sense to add him if he’s on the 25. If anything if Pena gets hurt then he gets dfa’d. If jelly gets hurt they probably use the emergency catcher and bide time for 2 games and dfa a pitcher like Derian Gonzalez.
leftykoufax
Right in the Cannoli, ouch!
Bryzzo2016
Man, that was tough to watch. Obviously not a Cards fan, but you hate to see that happen to ANY player, especially a great player/leader like Molina. I hope he has a full recovery.
Paul Heyman
Please cardinals don’t call up Carson Kelly dude can’t hit for life and still needs more seasoning. Call up the rangers for rupp.
tbone0816
They just did unfortunately, the Giants just signed Hanigan to a minor league deal he would’ve been a good pickup because he has MLB experience.
pepesilvia
Not really sure what any of these words mean “pelvic traumatic hematoma,” but they don’t sound good to me. If I’m Molina I’m taking a vacation for the rest of the year I wouldn’t fool around playing baseball after suffering an injury like that.
bigguccisosa300
“Pelvic injury with traumatic hematoma” sounds extremely un pleasant