Jose Molina is a former professional baseball player who played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. Molina was born on June 3, 1975, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and grew up in a family of baseball players. His father, Benjamin Molina, played in the Puerto Rican Winter League, and his brothers, Bengie and Yadier, also became professional baseball players.
Molina began his professional baseball career in 1993 when he signed with the California Angels as an amateur free agent. He spent several years in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with the Angels in 1999. Molina played for the Angels for six seasons, during which he established himself as a reliable defensive catcher with a strong arm and excellent pitch-framing skills.
In 2006, Molina signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent. He played for the Blue Jays for two seasons, during which he continued to excel defensively and also showed some offensive improvement. In 2008, Molina signed with the New York Yankees, where he became the backup catcher to Jorge Posada. Molina played for the Yankees for two seasons, during which he won a World Series championship in 2009.
After his stint with the Yankees, Molina signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010. He played for the Rays for three seasons, during which he continued to be a valuable defensive catcher and also showed some surprising offensive production. In 2013, Molina signed with the New York Yankees for a second time, where he played for one season before being traded to the Minnesota Twins.
Molina retired from professional baseball in 2014 after playing for the Twins for one season. Over the course of his career, Molina played in 1,362 games, recorded 1,026 hits, and had a batting average of .233. However, Molina's true value was in his defensive skills, as he was widely regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era. Molina was known for his ability to frame pitches, block balls in the dirt, and throw out baserunners attempting to steal.
In addition to his playing career, Molina has also worked as a coach and instructor in various baseball organizations. He has worked as a catching instructor for the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Angels, and he has also served as a coach for the Puerto Rican national baseball team.
Overall, Jose Molina had a successful career as a professional baseball player, and he will be remembered as one of the best defensive catchers of his era.
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