The St. Louis Cardinals will have Yadier Molina start for the first time in spring training after the catcher had thumb surgery in the offseason. Mike Leake will make his pitching debut for the team when the Cardinals take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Grapefruit League.
Molina has been making progress from thumb surgery in springing training and is now healthy enough to get into game action. Molina has said that he is hoping to be ready for Opening Day, and getting behind the plate is an important step in that process. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said that Molina will start at catcher and hit ninth in the lineup but added that he will be a pinch-hit for when his spot comes up.
Molina started to swing a bat for the first time since surgery on Tuesday, so the team wants to take it slow before he faces live pitching. Molina has been able to catch bullpen sessions in spring training. Leake will be making his debut for the Cardinals in spring training on Wednesday, and it will be the first time that Molina has caught for the pitcher.
"This was all on the timing of the medical team," Matheny said.
Molina was able to take "dry swings" on Tuesday, which is a significant step as he tries to be ready for the start of the season. He had his cast removed from the thumb in February and has been making steady progress since then. There is no set timetable for Molina to start hitting for the team, but the Cardinals are hoping that he keeps improving each day. Molina has not had any setbacks so far in his recovery from surgery.
"It is a good sign," Matheny said.
Molina had one of his worst seasons production-wise in 2015, hitting .270 with four home runs and 61 RBI in 136 games. He dealt with the thumb issue for quite some time last season, and he had surgery after the Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs. Mark Saxon of ESPN reported that Molina is looking "likely to be ready" for Opening Day for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals will also have Matt Holliday in the lineup at first base after the outfielder started at the position on Monday. Matheny said that Kolten Wong will be the leadoff hitter, while Matt Carpenter will hit second in the lineup. Along with Leake, pitchers Trevor Rosenthal and Marco Gonzales are expected to get in the game for the Cardinals.
