The Baseball Federation of Puerto Rico (FBPR) announced that Yadier Molina will manage the National Team for the World Baseball Classic, which will take place in March next year.
Molina, 40, is a 10-time All-Star and nine-time gold glove Major League Baseball (MLB) catcher. He appeared in 74 games in his 19th season for the St. Louis Cardinals.
He has appeared in every edition of the World Baseball Classic with Puerto Rico starting with the inaugural event in 2006, when the catcher was just 23 years old and had yet to post an OPS over .700 in a Major League season. He then returned in 2009, before becoming captain and lead them to back-to-back World Baseball Classic finals in 2013 and 2017 whilst also being named in the All-World Baseball Classic Team those same years.
Yadi previously managed Puerto Rico at the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2018. He has already committed to the Navegantes de Magallanes of the Venezuelan Professional League and will manage them in the 2022-2023 season.
"Yadier Molina has the leadership, commitment and knowledge that the position of Puerto Rico's manager in the World Baseball Classic requires," commented FBPR president José Daniel Quiles Rosas. "He has the players' respect and is a Puerto Rico fan favourite. He knows how to handle the event's format and carefully studies his opponents."
Joey Solá, who managed Puerto Rico at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2022, will serve as the general manager. He replaces Eduardo Perez.
A dean of students at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, Solà worked 15 years as a scout for the Houston Astros, signing future stars such as Carlos Correa and Kike Hernandez. He also served as the general manager for the Cangrejeros de Santurce in the Roberto Clemente Professional League.
"Joey Solá is a first-rate professional with an extensive career," added Quiles Rosas. He knows all the levels of baseball, is respected and is a good communicator. He has the qualities to fulfil this critical assignment."
