Jose was named to the provisional roster for Puerto Rico in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, giving him a chance to play alongside his younger brother Yadier...Jose and brothers Bengie and Yadier make up one of only 18 trios of brothers to play in the major leagues...they are the only set to each have a World Series ring and they have won two apiece: Jose with the 2002 Angels and 2009 Yankees, Bengie with the 2002 Angels and 2010 Giants, and Yadier with the 2006 and 2011 Cardinals...a Molina has played in eight of the last 11 postseasons...Their father, Benjamin Sr., was a factory worker who would rush home from a 10-hour shift, grab his glove and take the brothers to Rivera Park directly across the street from their home on the northern coast of Puerto Rico...Benjamin played infield and outfield for 15 years in Puerto Rico's Superior League and is in its Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame as a second baseman...he passed away on Oct 11, 2008.
2013
Played his 14th season in the majors, second with the Rays…started a career-high 87 games at catcher, breaking his previous high of 81 in 2008…also set career highs with 66 hits and 283 AB…has started 80-plus games in each of his two seasons with the Rays but averaged only 55 starts in the three seasons prior... Caught 17 of 73 (23.3 percent) of attempted base stealers, a tick above the major league average of 23.1…has a career caught stealing pct. of 34.5, fifth among active catchers (min. 400 games)…only Henry Blanco (40.5), Yadier Molina (40.5), Ryan Hanigan (36.3) and David Ross (35.8) are higher... Recorded 2 pickoffs…his 25 career pickoffs are second among active catchers behind his brother, STL Yadier Molina (42)... Hit .429 (15-for-35) with a .487 OBP in 14 games (11 starts) against Boston…hit .205 with a .260 OBP against all other opponents... Hit 2 HR, both coming with the game tied-on April 18 at BAL (Miguel Gonzalez) and July 5 vs. CWS (Dylan Axelrod)…the latter was the front end of back-to-back homers with Kelly Johnson... Bounced into a career-high 11 double plays…54.5 percent of his balls in play were ground balls, highest pct. on the team and the highest rate of his career... Allowed 8 passed balls, tying his career high (2011) and most by a Ray since Toby Hall in 2005 (8)... Made his 11th Opening Day roster and his fourth start (also 2004, 2006 and 2012)... WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Played 3 games for Puerto Rico in the 2013 WBC before they lost the final to the Dominican Republic…limited to only 11 spring games for the Rays... POSTSEASON: Made his fifth trip to the postseason, first since 2009…appeared in 4 games including 3 starts... Re-signed with the Rays on Dec 2 to a two-year, $4.5 million contract after declaring free agency…he will make a donation to the Rays Baseball Foundation over the life of the deal.
2012
Completed his 13th major league season and set career highs with eight HR and 32 RBI...Appeared in a career-high 102 games and his 80 starts at catcher were one shy of his career high (81 starts for the 2008 Yankees)...averaged 55 games played over his previous three seasons
(2009-11)...Threw out 27.8 pct. (15 of 54) of attempted base stealers...the major league average for catchers in 2012 was 21.3 pct. ...has thrown out 36.2 pct. (168-for-464) of attempted base stealers for his career, third best among active catchers (min. 500 games) after Henry Blanco (40.9) and his brother, Yadier Molina (40.3)...The Rays staff pitched to a 3.22 ERA with him behind the plate, second lowest in the majors behind CIN Ryan Hanigan (3.04)...during his career, pitchers have combined for a 3.85 ERA when throwing to him, the fifth best among active catchers (min. 500 games)...Batted .263 (30-for-114) in the second half compared to .190 (26-for-137) in the first half...hit only .170 (8-for-47) vs. LHP for the year...Hit .325/.372/.600 (13-for-40) with three HR and 10 RBI in 22 games in September...suffered a
right quad strain on Sept. 25 at BOS that limited
him to three appearances (no starts) over the team's final eight games...had played in 17 straight games prior to the injury, the longest such streak of his career...hit .353 (12-for-34) with three HR and eight RBI in that time.
2011
Started 44 games for Toronto as a backup to
rookie J.P. Arencibia...batted a career-high .281
(48-for-171) with 3 HR and 15 RBI...Threw out 12 of 36 attempted base stealers
(33.3 percent), 6th best in the majors (min. 40
games) and well above the major league average of 23 percent...over the past four seasons
(2008-11), Molina has been the majors' toughest catcher to steal against (min. 200 games),
throwing out 62 of 170 runners (36.5 percent)
during that span...During his career has thrown out 153 of 410 attempted base stealers, a percentage of 37.3,
4th best among active catchers (min. 500
games)...Picked off two base runners, one of nine major league catchers with more than one pickoff
in 2011...his 23 career pickoffs rank 3rd among
active catchers...During his career, pitchers have combined for
a 3.94 ERA when throwing to Molina, 5th-best
among active catchers (min. 500 games)...In August and September caught 21-year-old
Henderson Alvarez's last 8 starts of the season and the Jays prized rookie worked to a 3.05
ERA in those starts...in his first 2 major league
starts in August without Molina, Alvarez' ERA
was 5.91...The Jays were 28-20 with him in the lineup,
compared to 53-61 without...Has not started back-to-back games behind
the plate since Aug 28-29, 2010...Homered in his first at-bat of the season on
April 2 vs. MIN off Francisco Liriano in a 6-1
win...caught a one-hitter that day as well...Tripled off Juan Cruz at Tropicana Field on
Aug 4, his first triple since May 9, 2004...Was batting .310 as late as Aug 17, but went
9-for-45 (.200) in his last 17 games...Has gone 7-for-17 (.412) in each of the last two
seasons of interleague play.
2010
Played in 57 games starting 51 games behind the plate and one at designated hitter... POWER YEAR:
Matched his career high with six home runs, done one other time in 2005 with LAA... Hit a home run in back-to-back games
July 8-9 which was the second time he has done this in his career (May 10-11/01)... DON'T RUN ON HIM: This season
threw out 13 of 32 potential base stealers (40.6%) which was the highest percentage in the AL (Min 30 games)... Apr. 25
at TB threw out four attempted base stealers... The four caught stealing set a new Club record, surpassing four different
players-(Alberto Castillo, Pat Borders, Erinie Whitt, and Alan Ashby)... The last catcher in the Majors to record four caught
stealing in one game, all on straight steals was Charles Johnson with FLA on Sept. 18/02 vs. MON... ERA: Posted a 3.72
catchers ERA in 2010, a half run better than the club mark of 4.22.
2009
Hit .217 (30-for-138) with 15R, four doubles, HR and 12 RBI in 52 games (42 starts at C, one at DH) with the Yankees in 2009... Caught five-of-28 potential basestealers (17.9 percent)... Ranks fourth among active catchers with a 39.1 percent
(128-for-342) caught stealing rate (min. 500G)... Among Major Leaguers with at least 40 games at C in 2009, ranked
fourth with a 3.37 catcher's ERA... Made his seventh career Opening Day roster, second straight with the Yankees... Hit
grand slam (#1) and was 1-for-4 with 1SH on Apr. 28 win at Detroit, tying his career-high with 4RBI (second time, also
8/25/04 vs. Kansas City)...Was his second career grand slam (also 8/25/04 vs. Kansas City)... Was placed on the 15-day
disabled list on May 8 with a strained left quadriceps muscle... Pinch-hit for Rodriguez in the seventh and went 1-for-2 in
8/22 loss at Boston, remaining in game at 3B...Was his first career Major League appearance at 3B... In Sept. 7 Game 2 win vs. Tampa Bay, was 3-for-3 with 1RBI and 2BB, setting a season high in hits, reaching base five times a game for the
first time in his career.
2008
Hit .216 (58-for-268) with 32R, 17 doubles, 3HR and 18RBI in 100 games with the
Yankees (81 starts at C)... set career highs in games played, games started, at-bats,
hits and runs... tied his single-season career high with 17 doubles (also in 2006
with Los Angeles-AL)... his 81 starts at catcher were the most starts by a Yankees
catcher other than Jorge Posada since Joe Girardi made 109 starts behind the plate
in 1997...Led the Major Leagues with a 43.2% caught stealing
rate... with 32CS (in 74 attempts), tied with brother
Bengie Molina for second in the Majors behind
Milwaukee's Jason Kendall (36)... ranked fifth in the
Majors-and fourth in the American League-with a
3.71 catcher's ERA, recording the lowest such mark by
a Yankee since Joe Girardi in 1997 (3.42)...Made his sixth career Opening Day roster and first
with the Yankees... hit safely in each of his first nine
starts of the season (4/2-13), going 12-for-32 (.375) with
7 doubles and 2RBI in those games... batted sixth in
the lineup and was 2-for-4 with 1 double in 4/10 win at
Kansas City, marking just the second time in his career
he hit higher than seventh (also 5/21/04 w/ Anaheim
vs. Baltimore)...Was 1-for-3 with 1R and 1BB in 5/3 win vs. Seattle,
snapping a 23AB hitless streak with his sixth-inning
single... his walk in the fourth inning snapped a
streak of 93 consecutive plate appearances without
a base on balls... was 1-for-3 with 1 double in 5/18
loss vs. the Mets, snapping an 0-for-20 stretch vs. lefthanded
pitching with a fifth-inning double off Johan
Santana... was the longest such streak of his career
(credit: Elias Sports Bureau)...Was credited with 12 consecutive caught stealings from 6/3-7/6, marking the longest
such stretch by a catcher since the White Sox's Mike LaValliere in 1993 (also 12
consecutive CS)... had his streak snapped by B.J. Upton in 7/8 win vs. Tampa Bay... was
credited with a CS on 6/14 at Houston despite a Derek Jeter error on the play...Made six consecutive starts at catcher for the first time in his career from 7/4-10,
becoming the first Yankees catcher other than Jorge Posada to accomplish the feat
since Joe Girardi in 1997 (credit: Elias Sports Bureau).
4 Recorded a "walk-off," bases-loaded HBP in the 12th inning..Recorded a "walk-off," bases-loaded HBP in the 12th inning in 7/19 win vs. Oakland,
after entering the game defensively in the 10th inning at C... was the Yankees' first
"walk-off" win on an HBP since Clete Boyer was hit in the 12th inning of the Yankees'
2-1 victory vs. Washington on 7/15/65...Hit solo-HR off Jered Weaver and was 3-for-3 with 3R in 8/2 win vs. the Angels, snapping a 221AB homerless
stretch dating to 9/5/07 vs. Seattle... was his first homer off a right-handed pitcher since 9/14/06 w/ Los
Angeles (AL) at Texas (off Edinson Volquez), a span of 284AB vs. RHP... tied a season high with 3H (also on
7/21 vs. Minnesota) and scored a career-high-tying 3R for the first time since 6/6/06 w/ Angels at Tampa Bay
(fourth time overall)...Was eighth-inning defensive replacement
at 1B in 8/21 loss at Toronto (did not bat),
marking his 10th career appearance at 1B
and first since 8/10/06 at Cleveland (w/ Los
Angeles-AL)...Hit the last home run in Yankee Stadium
history in 9/21 win vs. Baltimore, a
two-run shot in the fourth inning off
Chris Waters... went 3-for-4 with 2R in
the game, tying his season-high in hits
(third time)... entered the game with 1H
in previous 24AB... his spikes used during
the game were donated to the National
Baseball Hall of Fame...Started behind the plate in 9/28 Game 1
win at Boston, catching Mike Mussina's
20th win of the season.
2007
Hit .257 (49-for-191) with 18R, 13 doubles, 1HR and 19RBI in 69 games with the Angels and the Yankees in 2007 (53 starts at catcher)...threw out 12-of-43 base stealers (28%)...Was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on 7/21 in exchange for RHP Jeff Kennard...In 29 games with the Yankees, hit .318 (21-for-66) with 9R, 5 doubles, 1HR and 9 RBI (16 starts at catcher)...threw out 5-of-18 base stealers (28%)...Hit safely in 12 of his 16 starts with the Yankees, including five multi-hit games...Batted .444 (8-for-18) with runners in scoring position with the Yankees...hit .429 with RISP and two outs (3-for-7)...Made his Yankees debut in 7/26 loss at Kansas City, going 2-for-4 with 1 double....established a single-game career high with 4H in 8/11 win at Cleveland, going 4-for-5 with 1R and 1 double...his first-inning single snapped an 0-for-13 stretch...Made starts in three consecutive games from 8/10-12 at Cleveland...Hit solo-HR (#1) and was 2-for-2 in 9/5 win vs. Seattle before being removed for PH (Posada) in the seventh...was his first home run since 9/14/06 (w/ Anaheim) at Texas, snapping a 182AB homerless stretch...Was 3-for-4 with 1R, 1 double and a season-high 3RBI in 9/23 win vs. Toronto...was his first multi-RBI game as a Yankee and his most since driving in three runs on 9/29/05 (w/ Anaheim) at Oakland...Finished the season with 14H in his final 38AB and batted .355 in the month of September (11-for-31) with 7RBI...was his highest average for any calendar month in his career since July 2002 (.360) with the Angels...Began the season with the Angels, batting .224 (28-for-125) with 10RBI in 40 games (37 starts at C)...threw out 7-of-25 base-stealers (28%)...Ended Ichiro Suzuki's American League record consecutive stolen base streak at 45 in the seventh inning on 5/17 at Seattle...Is one of three Molina brothers currently playing in the Majors (Bengie-San Francisco and Yadier-St. Louis).
2006
Molina played in a career-high 78 games and saw a career-best 225 at-bats in 2006. The catcher, though, was unable to claim the everyday starter role for the Angels as rookies Jeff Mathis and Mike Napoli also saw time behind the plate. Molina hit .273 after the All-Star break. He threw out 20-of-47 potential base-stealers, an impressive percentage of 42.6.
2005
Spent fifth season with Angels as reserve catcher...Registered career-best six HRs and tied career-high with 25 RBI...PH, 2-RBI single in 7th inning, Sept. 21 vs. Texas, proved to be game-winner...Made 55 starts (53 as C, 1 DH, 1 1B)...Hit .271 (23/85) at home, .192 (19/99) on road...Hit .306 (19/62) vs. LHP with five of six HRs...HR off Randy Johnson July 31 at NYY in first career start at 1B...Threw out 49% of basestealers (18 of 37), tops in AL (min. 30 attempts)...In 2004, threw out 19 of 42 base stealers (45%), tops in AL (min. of 40 attempts)...Tallied three pickoffs - led AL catchers with five pickoffs in 2004 (just 56 starts)...Connected for first HR, May 1 at Min. (solo off Johan Santana) - 2-1 win snapped 17-game win streak for Santana...Hit .500 (4/8) with bases loaded (9 RBI)...Best months came in May (.304, 14/46, 3 HR, 8 RBI) and Sept. (.304, 7/23, 1 HR, 6 RBI).
2004
Completed second professional season, serving as backup catcher to brother Bengie...Batted .261 (53/203) with 26 runs
scored, 10 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 25 RBI in 73 games (57 starts; totaled just 38 in 2003)...Played in
career-best 73 games and set career-bests in all offensive categories...Threw out 19 of 42 basestealers (45%), 1st among
AL catchers (min. of 40 attempts)...Ended season hitting safely in career-best seven straight games...Connected for first
career grand slam in only at-bat, Aug. 25 vs. Kansas City...He and Bengie became first brothers to hit grand slams in same
season since 2001 (Marcus and Brian Giles) and 11th time overall brothers have accomplished feat in same season...Four
RBI also marked career-best... Nine of his 25 RBI tied game or gave Angels lead...Posted four stolen bases (0 SB in first 107
ML games)...Made second consecutive Opening Day roster and first as starting catcher, connecting for HR at Seattle...2004
Post- Season...Appeared in Games 2 & 3 of ALDS vs. Boston...Made post-season debut as starting catcher in Game 2, going
1-for-2 with a run scored...Entered Game 3 in 7th inning as pinch-hitter (0/1, 1 R, 2 BB).
2003
In first full season in Majors, served as backup catcher to brother Bengie, batting .184 (21/114) with 12 runs, four doubles and six RBI in career-best 53 games (totaled 54 games from 1999-2002)...Left Sept. 20 game at Texas during at-bat in fifth inning due to contusion of left shoulder...Injury occurred in bottom of second inning on collision at plate with Rafael Palmeiro...Did not play rest of season following injury...Drew only walk of season Sept. 12 at Seattle after having made 110 plate appearances without a free pass...Made 38 starts behind plate and posted 4.04 ERA working with Angels' pitchers (332 IC - 149 ER), committing just one error (.995 pct.)...Tossed out six of 24 would-be basestealers (25%)...Hit in season-best three-straight, May 24-June 3.
Career Highlights
Came up through Cubs' system...The Molina brothers (Bengie and Jose) are just second tandem of siblings to appear at catcher on same Major League team in same season (Amos and Lave Cross each played catcher for Louisville Colonels of the American Association in 1887)...Also the second pair of brothers to appear with Angels (also Stew and Stan Cliburn in the 1980s)...The Molinas played together in same game for first time, Sept. 8, 2001.
2002
Started 24 games as catcher after recall, July 17...Picked off three runners and threw out 9-of-23 basestealers (39%), yet committed three errors...Angels' pitchers had best ERA (3.01) while working with him...Became Angels' back-up catcher after Jorge Fabregas' trade to Milwaukee, July 31...Initially posted career-high three hits, July 21 vs. Seattle...Recalled from triple-A Salt Lake, July 17...Replaced brother Bengie on roster (15-day DL; Strained left hamstring)...Marked second transaction involving his brother (also May 5, 2001, contract selected from Salt Lake after Bengie suffered strained right hamstring)...Batted .307 (89/290) with 30 runs scored, 14 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 43 RBI in 79 games for Stingers...Rated as the best defensive catcher on the Pacific Coast League by
Baseball America...Played with Caguas of Puerto Rican Winter League.
2002 Post-Season
He and brother Bengie became the fourth set of brothers to appear on the same team in the same World
Series game - the last set being Felipe and Matty Alou with San Francisco in 1962...Made first career post-season appearance
as catcher in Game 1 of ALCS vs. Minnesota (8th inn.)...Did not appear in Division Series vs. New York...Appeared as defensive replacement in three World Series games, recording a sacrifice bunt in his lone plate appearance.
2001
Concluded ninth professional season and first with Anaheim, batting .270 (10/37) with eight runs scored, three doubles, two home runs and four RBI in 15 major league games (qualifying as rookie)...Set career highs in all categories (previously appeared in 10 major league games with Cubs in 1999)...Began season at triple-A Salt Lake before contract was selected by Angels, May 5, when brother Bengie was placed on 15-day disabled list (strained right hamstring)...Move is believed to be only second ever involving brothers (Bret & Aaron Boone, Cincinnati, 1997)...The Molinas became second brothers duo to appear with Angels (Stewart & Stan Cliburn)...Made first start and appearance with Angels, May 6 vs. Detroit (0/3)...Started 11 of club's 13 games at catcher after being called up to Anaheim...Hit .235 (8/34) with seven runs scored, two doubles, two home runs and four RBI in that span...Collected first hit (single) in A.L. and as Angel, May 8 at Chicago...Posted first major league home run, May 10 at Chicago (solo off Rocky Biddle, 5th inn.)...Registered career-best six-game hit streak, May 8-15...As catcher, threw out five of 16 (31.3%)...Was errorless in 84 total chances, taking part in one double play...Picked off three runners...Angels' pitchers owned 4.11 ERA while he was catching...Placed on 15-day D.L., May 21, with fractured left thumb...Activated and optioned to triple-A Salt Lake, July 1...Also recalled to Anaheim, Sept. 4 for final month of season...In 61 triple-A games, hit .300 (64/213) with 29 runs scored, 11 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 31 RBI...Went 4-for-4, July 4 at Omaha.
2000
Spent eighth professional season in Cubs' organization at triple-A Iowa, batting .234 (58/248) with 22 runs scored, nine doubles, one home run and 17 RBI in 76 games...Hit safely in 44 games, including 12 multi-hit contests...Collected season high three hits twice: May 26 at Colorado Springs and June 24 vs. New Orleans...Recorded season-long nine-game hit streak, May 28-June 7, batting .545 (12/22) in that span...Appeared in 73 games as catcher, posting .981 fielding percentage (11 E/583 TC)...Took part in six double plays and committed six passed balls.
1999
Began seventh professional season at double-A West Tennessee...Compiled .171 average (6/35) in 14 games...Owned
.982 fielding percentage (2 E/112 TC)...Allowed four passed balls...Promoted to triple-A Iowa April 25...Hit .263 (63/240) with 11 doubles, one triple, four home runs and 25 RBI in 74 games before having contract purchased by Cubs, Aug. 31...Threw out 20 of 55 baserunners (36%)...Compiled .987 fielding percentage (7 E/539 TC)...Committed nine passed balls...Had contract purchased by Chicago Cubs, Aug. 31...Batted .263 (5/19) with three runs scored, one double and one RBI in 10 games (7 starts)...Made major league debut, Sept. 6 vs. Cincinnati, going 2-for-3 with double...First major league hit was single off Juan Guzman in first at-bat...Placed on 15-day disabled list with strained right clavicle, July 31- Aug. 10.
1998
Spent season at double-A West Tennessee, playing in career-high 109 games...Batted .222 (71/320) with 10 doubles,
two home runs and 28 RBI...Set career highs in hits and at-bats...Threw out league-leading 63 runners of 128 potential
basestealers (49%), second-best ratio in Southern League...Led league in catcher's assists (108) and ranked second with .991
fielding percentage.
1997
Split season between three clubs and combined for .224 average with 12 doubles and 38 RBI in 93 games...Threw out
43 of 106 baserunners (40.6%)...Began season at single-A Daytona, batting .251 in 55 games...Promoted to triple-A Iowa, May
29 before return to Daytona, May 31...Also played for Iowa, Aug. 6-16...Was 1-for-3 in only triple-A appearance...Promoted
to single-A Orlando, June 18...Sent to Daytona, July 23, before transfer to Iowa, Aug. 6...Transferred back to Orlando, Aug.
16...Batted .172 in 37 games at Orlando.
1996
Batted .226 (69/305) with 10 doubles, two home runs and 27 RBI for single-A Rockford...Set career highs in runs
scored (35) and walks (36)...Posted .985 fielding percentage (11 E/729 TC) with 18 passed balls...Threw out 59 of 133 potential
basestealers (44%)...Took part in 10 double plays.
1995
Spent third professional season at single-A Daytona, batting .236 (55/233) in 82 games...Threw out 41 of 81 potential
basestealers (51%) and had .987 fielding percentage (8 E/600 TC).
1994
Spent season at single-A Peoria and posted .229 average (58/253) in 78 games...Set career highs with 13 doubles and
33 RBI...Threw out 44 of 101 potential basestealers (44%) and compiled .980 fielding percentage (13 E/659 TC).
1993
Began professional career at rookie-level Port St. Lucie, batting .218 in 33 games...Promoted to single-A Daytona, Aug.
22, appearing in three games (1/7).
