Gabe Molina
Encyclopedia
Cruz Gabriel Molina is a former right-handed Major League Baseball
relief pitcher who played from 1999 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2003 for the Baltimore Orioles
, Atlanta Braves
and St. Louis Cardinals
. He was 6'1" tall and he weighed 220 pounds.
Prior to playing professional baseball, Molina Kennedy High School
and then Arizona State University
.
Drafted by the Orioles in the 21st round of the 1996 amateur draft
and signed by scout John Green, Molina began his professional career that year with the Bluefield Orioles
. In 23 relief appearances, he went 4-0 with a 3.60 ERA, striking out 33 batters in 30 innings of work. Winning the Appalachian League Championship closing out the final game. The following year, he pitched for the Delmarva Shorebirds
, and he went 8-6 with a 2.18 ERA in 46 relief appearances. He struck out 119 batters in 91 innings as well. Again winning the South Atlantic Championship and closing out the final game. In 1998, pitching for the Bowie Baysox
, Molina went 3-2 with 24 saves and a 3.36 ERA in 61 2/3 innings. He struck out 75 batters and was named Pitcher of the Year for the Baltimore organization.
Molina began the 1999 season with the Rochester Red Wings
, going 2-2 with 18 saves and a 3.14 ERA in 45 relief appearances for them. On May 1, he made his big league debut, pitching against the Minnesota Twins
. He allowed a hit and a walk in an inning of work, but he gave up no earned runs. Overall, he made 20 appearances in the Majors in 1999, going 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA. He walked 6 batters and struck out 14. According to Baseball America
, he was ranked the 10th best prospect in the Orioles organization in 1999.
He spent time in the majors and minors in 2000, in two different organizations. For the Baltimore Orioles, he appeared in nine games and posted a 5.00 ERA in 13 innings. For the Red Wings, he went 1-2 with a 3.94 ERA in 18 games. He started four games for them, the first starts of his professional career. On July 31, Molina was traded with B. J. Surhoff to the Braves for Trenidad Hubbard
, Fernando Lunar
and Luis Rivera
. He made two appearances for the Braves. With the Atlanta Braves, he pitched two innings, allowing one earned run. With Richmond, he went 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in nine relief appearances. Overall, he went 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 11 relief appearances in 2000. He went 2-2 with a 3.58 ERA in the minor leagues. He was granted free agency on December 21
Molina was signed by the Florida Marlins
on January 10, 2001. He appeared in 40 games (16 starts) for the Calgary Cannons
, their minor league affiliate, going 9-2 with a 3.89 ERA. He was granted free agency on October 15. He was signed by the Cardinals on November 28, 2001.
Although he never got a true opportunity in the majors throughout his career, his 2002 season would prove to be a major improvement, if not a pleasant surprise. He appeared in 56 games for the Cardinals AAA team the Memphis Redbirds
, going 5-4 with a 2.15 ERA, saving 12 games. In 12 major league appearances, he went 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA.
In 2003, going 2-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 57 relief appearances for the Redbirds, and 0-0 with a 13.53 ERA in three relief appearances for the Cardinals. He appeared in his final major league game on May 26.
In 2004, he did not play in American affiliated baseball. In 2005, he pitched for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
, in the Colorado Rockies
farm system. In 45 games with them, he went 10-2 with a 3.86 ERA.
Overall, Molina went 2-2 in 46 major league relief appearances. In 52 innings, he walked 23 batters, struck out 48 and posted a 4.58 ERA.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher who played from 1999 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2003 for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He was 6'1" tall and he weighed 220 pounds.
Prior to playing professional baseball, Molina Kennedy High School
John F. Kennedy High School (Denver, Colorado)
John F. Kennedy High School is a public secondary school located in the Bear Valley neighborhood on the southwest side of Denver...
and then Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
.
Drafted by the Orioles in the 21st round of the 1996 amateur draft
1996 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1996 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 4 and 5, 1996...
and signed by scout John Green, Molina began his professional career that year with the Bluefield Orioles
Bluefield Orioles
The Bluefield Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia. Beginning in 2011, Bluefield will be affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. The team plays their home games at Bowen Field, a...
. In 23 relief appearances, he went 4-0 with a 3.60 ERA, striking out 33 batters in 30 innings of work. Winning the Appalachian League Championship closing out the final game. The following year, he pitched for the Delmarva Shorebirds
Delmarva Shorebirds
The Delmarva Shorebirds are a minor league baseball team based in Salisbury, Maryland. They are one of three Single-A affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles and a member of the South Atlantic League. The Shorebirds play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.The "Shorebirds" name refers to the marine waterfowl...
, and he went 8-6 with a 2.18 ERA in 46 relief appearances. He struck out 119 batters in 91 innings as well. Again winning the South Atlantic Championship and closing out the final game. In 1998, pitching for the Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
, Molina went 3-2 with 24 saves and a 3.36 ERA in 61 2/3 innings. He struck out 75 batters and was named Pitcher of the Year for the Baltimore organization.
Molina began the 1999 season with the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
, going 2-2 with 18 saves and a 3.14 ERA in 45 relief appearances for them. On May 1, he made his big league debut, pitching against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. He allowed a hit and a walk in an inning of work, but he gave up no earned runs. Overall, he made 20 appearances in the Majors in 1999, going 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA. He walked 6 batters and struck out 14. According to Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
, he was ranked the 10th best prospect in the Orioles organization in 1999.
He spent time in the majors and minors in 2000, in two different organizations. For the Baltimore Orioles, he appeared in nine games and posted a 5.00 ERA in 13 innings. For the Red Wings, he went 1-2 with a 3.94 ERA in 18 games. He started four games for them, the first starts of his professional career. On July 31, Molina was traded with B. J. Surhoff to the Braves for Trenidad Hubbard
Trenidad Hubbard
Trenidad Aviel Hubbard is a former Major League Baseball journeyman outfielder. He is an alumnus of Southern University and A&M College....
, Fernando Lunar
Fernando Lunar
Fernando José Lunar [loo-NAR] , is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles . He batted and threw right-handed...
and Luis Rivera
Luis Rivera (pitcher)
Luis Rivera Gutierrez is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He is 6'3" tall and weighes 163 pounds....
. He made two appearances for the Braves. With the Atlanta Braves, he pitched two innings, allowing one earned run. With Richmond, he went 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in nine relief appearances. Overall, he went 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 11 relief appearances in 2000. He went 2-2 with a 3.58 ERA in the minor leagues. He was granted free agency on December 21
Molina was signed by the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
on January 10, 2001. He appeared in 40 games (16 starts) for the Calgary Cannons
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
, their minor league affiliate, going 9-2 with a 3.89 ERA. He was granted free agency on October 15. He was signed by the Cardinals on November 28, 2001.
Although he never got a true opportunity in the majors throughout his career, his 2002 season would prove to be a major improvement, if not a pleasant surprise. He appeared in 56 games for the Cardinals AAA team the Memphis Redbirds
Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a...
, going 5-4 with a 2.15 ERA, saving 12 games. In 12 major league appearances, he went 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA.
In 2003, going 2-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 57 relief appearances for the Redbirds, and 0-0 with a 13.53 ERA in three relief appearances for the Cardinals. He appeared in his final major league game on May 26.
In 2004, he did not play in American affiliated baseball. In 2005, he pitched for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
, in the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
farm system. In 45 games with them, he went 10-2 with a 3.86 ERA.
Overall, Molina went 2-2 in 46 major league relief appearances. In 52 innings, he walked 23 batters, struck out 48 and posted a 4.58 ERA.