Catcher: Yadier Molina (2004 – Present)
Yadier Molina is a tough pick over the 1970s catcher Ted Simmons. But with Molina’s defensive dominance through his career, he can’t be ignored.
Early in his career, Molina was thought of as only a defensive catcher. He had a career batting average of .248 in 2007. By 2015, it soared to .286. But Molina was and is more known for his defensive abilities. With his unbelievable catching ability, along with his canon for an arm, Molina was quickly recognized as one of the best catchers in the league. Molina currently ranks second all-time among catchers in Total Zone Runs with 131. He only trails Ivan Rodriguez at 167. Molina also has never had a negative defensive WAR in a season.
In his first twelve seasons, he has made a postseason appearance nine times. He also has had seven consecutive All-Star game appearances, eight consecutive Gold Glove awards, four Platinum Glove awards, and one Silver Slugger award. Offensively, Yadi has produced over 1,500 hits, 100 home runs, 600 RBI, and a career batting average of .284. While on the team, the Cardinals have won 2 World Series titles and 4 National League pennants.
Currently, Molina is in his 13th season and hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. The 33-year-old catcher broke Ted Simmons’ record of games caught all-time for the Cardinals. He also is hitting .300/.354/.413 while the Cardinals remain in the hunt for a Wild Card playoff position. The prestigious catcher has been vital to the St. Louis Cardinals’ success and will be until he retires.