Earlier, we learned that Giants catcher Buster Posey would miss the 2018 All-Star Game in Washington, D.C. due to inflammation in his right hip. Now, we have learned his replacement: Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.
Molina, 35, is now a nine-time All-Star. This season, he’s hitting .278/.320/.495 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI in 231 plate appearances. He missed about a month between May 6 and June 4 with an, um, unfortunate injury. So he deserves some love for that alone, though he’s certainly deserving for other reasons.
Molina joins fellow catchers Willson Contreras and J.T. Realmuto on the NL All-Star squad. Francisco Cervelli, Yasmani Grandal, and Kurt Suzuki were likely other candidates under consideration for Posey’s roster spot before Molina was selected.