Bengie Molina
High school
Molina graduated from the Maestro Ladí High School with honors in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico.
College
Molina played shortstop for Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona, in 1991 and 1992.
Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim
Molina won a Gold Glove as the top defensive player at his position in consecutive seasons in 2002 and 2003. Regarded as an exceptional ball blocker and blessed with a strong arm, he is frequently regarded by both pundits and fans alike as one of the strongest defensive catchers in the game and a very good contact hitter. Molina's ability to make proven contact with the ball is evident in the difficulty opposing pitchers have in striking him out. With just 331 career strikeouts (at the culmination of the 2007 regular-season), he posted the highest total of at-bats in between strikeouts in the American league in 2000, going an average 14.3 at-bats in between strikeouts.
He first played two games for the Anaheim Angels in 1998, and after a handful of games in 1999, he became the Angels' regular catcher in 2000 and remained so through the 2005 season. Over his last few seasons with the Angels, his backup at catcher there was his brother José Molina. Their younger brother Yadier is also a catcher and plays for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Molina was the catcher in the play in game 5 of the 2002 World Series when J.T. Snow lifted Darren Baker, the young son of Giants manager Dusty Baker, out of harm's way in front of Molina and ahead of David Bell.
Toronto Blue Jays
Bengie Molina's contract with the Angels expired after the 2005 season, and the team decided not pursue his return because of the salary he would demand. He signed a 1-year $5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, with a mutual option for a second year. While it was expected that he would catch the majority of the Jays' 2006 season with Gregg Zaun serving as his backup, Molina's difficulties with right-handed pitchers led to the Jays employing a platoon system.
After signing with the Blue Jays, Molina expressed his anger at the Angels over how he parted company with them. "The way they let me go without a notice, without calling me, that said a lot," Molina said. "That's what really hurts me. I think I built a good relationship with them," he said. "They never let me know. They just threw me like a piece of trash."[3] Molina's agent, Alan Nero, later confirmed however, that both he and Molina had in fact received calls from the Angels informing them of the team's decisions. Nero suggested that Molina's comments to the contrary were borne from his disappointment and frustration over not being retained by the Angels, as he had hoped to be.
San Francisco Giants
After the 2006 season, Molina became a free agent and signed three-year $16 million deal with San Francisco.
Molina hit his 100th home run on September 5, 2007 off of Jorge Julio in the sixth inning of a 5–3 win against the Colorado Rockies.
Molina was announced as the Willie Mac Award winner for 2007 (for spirit and leadership) in a pregame ceremony on September 21, 2007. He got the most out of 1,617 votes from the fans. Later in that September 21 game, Molina knocked in career RBI number 500 in the bottom of the first on a single that scored Dave Roberts. They eventually lost the game to the Cincinnati Reds 9–8 in 11 innings. In 2007 Molina walked only 2.9% of the time, the lowest percentage in the NL.
On September 26, 2008, Molina became the first player in MLB history to hit a home run and not get credit for a run scored. In the 6th inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he hit a ball off the right field wall at AT&T Park which the umpire called in fair play, and wound up at first base. Emmanuel Burriss immediately ran out to first base to pinch run for Molina before anyone else could intervene, as Giants manager Bruce Bochy discussed the matter with the umpires. However, the umpires used instant replay and subsequently ruled the hit a home run, but refused Bochy the opportunity to reinsert Molina into the game. San Francisco continued the game under protest, but won 6–5 in the 10th inning. Preceding the same game, Molina had received the Willie Mac Award for the second year in a row.
Texas Rangers
Following one of the team's longer losing streaks of the season, and the sudden emergence of rookie catcher Buster Posey, Molina was traded to the Texas Rangers on June 30, 2010 for relief pitcher Chris Ray and a player to be named later, which was minor league RHP Michael Main. [12] As two of the Giants' best pitchers commented upon Molina's departure, his contributions to the Giants were very significant. "He helped me mature and succeed. I've said time and time again that he deserves half of those awards that I've gotten," said Tim Lincecum, the reigning two-time National League Cy Young Award winner. "The things he's done for me – for calling a game, to give me confidence throwing different pitches in different counts – really, really, really benefited me," Matt Cain said of Molina. [13]
Notorious for his lack of baserunning ability, on July 16, 2010 Molina hit for the cycle against Boston. He had (in order) a single, double, home run (grand slam), and triple. He was then pinch run for and left the game in the top of the 8th inning after hitting the triple, with a leg injury. He is the fifth Texas Ranger to hit for the cycle. He is also the first catcher in MLB history to hit a grand slam and hit for the cycle in the same game.
During the 2010 American League Division Series Molina (again despite his poor baserunning ability) stole a base in Game 5, his first in over four years. He also had a home run in Game 1.
In Game 4 of the 2010 American League Championship Series, with 2 outs in the 6th inning and the Rangers trailing the New York Yankees, 3-2, Molina hit a 3-run home run off A. J. Burnett. The home run, arguably one of the most important in Rangers history, proved to be the game-winner for the Rangers and gave the underdog Rangers a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.
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