St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is hoping to be ready for the start of the season after having multiple surgeries on his thumb this offseason. Molina has been making progress in his recovery and could return to the field for the first time during spring training this week.
Molina had two surgical procedures on his left thumb last year, which followed one of the least productive seasons of his career. The thumb was a lingering issue for Molina, but the catcher has made significant progress and could get back on the field for the Cardinals this week. He has started catching for bullpen sessions, but has not yet picked up a bat and started swinging.
Swinging a bat is one of the next steps in his recovery from surgery, but the Cardinals do not want to rush Molina back too fast. Molina said that he is hoping to avoid starting the season on the disabled list, and that playing on Opening Day is his goal. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said that Molina could see time in a Grapefruit League game this week, but that he only would play the field, as he is not ready to pick up a bat in game action yet.
"You'll see him grabbing a bat this week," Matheny said. "This week, if everything continues to progress and he continues to take positive steps, we could potentially get him in [a game] just to catch."
The 33-year-old catcher is a key player for the Cardinals, as he knows how to handle a pitching staff and is as consistent as anyone at his position in the league. Molina has won eight Gold Gloves and has been an All-Star seven times while with the Cardinals. Last season Molina struggled offensively, hitting .270 with just four home runs and 61 RBI in 136 games.
Molina had the cast on his thumb removed in mid-February and he was one of the first players to appear at workouts for the Cardinals in spring training. The team signed Brayan Pena as a backup option for Molina if the catcher needs to start the season on the disabled list. Molina dealt with the thumb injury during the postseason, but did not have surgery until the Cardinals were eliminated.
The Cardinals are also expecting Carlos Martinez to get his first start of the spring soon. Martinez was able to throw a bullpen session on Sunday and could be in line to start a game this week.