JUPITER, Fla. • While managing the Cardinals’ road game Thursday in Lakeland, Fla., Mike Matheny received updates from back at Roger Dean Stadium where catcher Yadier Molina took his most significant stride yet toward being ready for opening day.
Molina struck out in a minor-league scrimmage, Matheny was told.
But this wasn’t any strikeout.
“He wasn’t there taking,” the manager said.
After a week of standing and watching pitches at the major-league level, Molina took his first real, game-speed swings against prospects at the Cardinals’ minor-league complex. In a minor-league intrasquad game, he faced the crown jewel of the Cardinals’ system, hard-throwing righthander Alex Reyes. Molina had two at-bats against Reyes, singling hard to center in his first at-bat before the strikeout (swinging) in his second. Molina finished one-for-three with a groundout in his third bat.
He could return to a major-league game with clearance to swing for the first time as early as Friday. Less than a month after acknowledging they had to prepare as if Molina wouldn’t be ready to start the season, the Cardinals are now optimistic.
“I’m very pleased where he is,” said general manager John Mozeliak, who added Molina was even ahead of the club’s timetable. “When we got to camp a month ago we were all wondering, and actually, focusing on him not being ready for opening day. Assuming everything goes well over the next two weeks, it appears that he’s going to be ready. That’s exciting.”
Matheny said Molina stepping into game action Thursday was part of the plan the team has had for several weeks. The Cardinals’ Gold Glove catcher has progressed steadily from catching bullpens to catching live batting practice, starting a game a behind the plate to standing at the plate in a game. He was repeatedly told not to swing in his at-bats, once confusing the opposing pitcher by just standing at the plate for three strikes. Molina did execute a sacrifice bunt – but only when he had received clearance to do so.
Molina said it was difficult to stand there, tracking pitching.
“You’ve got to follow the process,” he added.
The focus has been on building strength in his left hand, and as a baseline the Cardinals have used Molina’s right hand for comparisons. Matheny said it has been at least a week since Molina’s left hand has returned to full strength, and translating that to the swing has been the goal. A year ago, Molina built strength in his hand while starting in regular-season games, and as a result it wasn’t until June that he hit his first home run or felt he could swing the bat with authority. The Cardinals have not seen that same hesitation this spring, but Thursday offered Molina first chance to take it from batting practice to game action.
From his perch behind a screen watching Molina’s at-bats, Mozeliak said he was “very encouraged” by what he saw.
“He had aggressive swings,” the general manager said. “He obviously made solid contact and, from a timing standpoint, he’s right where he needs to be.”
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After his team’s 5-4 loss to Detroit at Lakeland’s Joker Marchant Stadium, Matheny called Molina’s work back in Jupiter “part of the progression.” But he agreed it was no small part.
“Taking live is a big deal,” Matheny said. “That’s what we were hoping to get him and he’s been real good about staying on track and following the medical staff’s template they put in place a long time ago. He keeps doing his part, and they keep pushing things forward.”
Matheny said the major-league staff left the minor-league staff to determine who would be best for Molina to face during their camp-day games. (The spring minor-league exhibition schedule begins Friday.) According to several staffers, Molina was supposed to take at-bats against righthander Michael Mayers, who was recovering from elbow surgery. Instead, he faced Reyes, twice. The young righthander, who starred at High-A Palm Beach last season, has not been a part of major-league spring training this season because he has 40 games remaining on a drug suspension. Reyes tested positive for using marijuana last fall. Reyes can touch 100 mph with his fastball – but he also has the control that matters when a prized asset like Molina is in the box.
At one point Molina appeared as if he would take an at-bat against Low-A Peoria pitcher Bryan Dobzanski in another game but came back to the Class AAA vs. Class AA game after Dobzanski bounced a ball in the dirt. The pitch was inside to the hitter. Molina said there had been no connection between the wild pitch and the switch. Molina wears a protective splint under his mitt when catching pitchers, but at the plate Thursday only had tape around his surgically repaired thumb.
He was happy with the day and felt nothing untoward.
“Everything is good. I have to keep building strength,” Molina said. “It doesn’t hurt.”
Asked if he could be ready by April 3, the day the Cardinals open the regular season in Pittsburgh, Molina said: “If everything goes right … yes.”
Staff writer Derrick Goold contributed to this report from Lakeland, Fla.
Derrick Goold
@dgoold on Twitter
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