Gustavo Molina

Gustavo Eduardo Molina

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 220 lbs.
• High School Colegio San Jose (Catia La Mar)
• Debut April 2, 2007
• Final Game April 28, 2011
• Born February 24, 1982 in La Guaira, Vargas, Venezuela

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Biographical Information

Venezuelan catcher Gustavo Molina was signed by scout Roberto Espinoza for the Chicago White Sox in January 2000 and made his pro debut that year with the AZL White Sox. The next season, 2001, he played for the Bristol White Sox and hit .283 with the club. In 2002, he advanced to the Kannapolis Intimidators, where he played for two and a half years. With the Intimidators in 2003, he hit 5 homers and played every position except pitcher. Midway through the 2004 season, Molina was promoted to the Winston-Salem Warthogs. He spent the full year with the Warthogs in 2005, hitting .216 with 11 home runs. He then split 2006 between the Birmingham Barons and the Charlotte Knights.

In 2007, Molina made the White Sox's Opening Day roster as the backup to A.J. Pierzynski due to an injury to backstop Toby Hall. He made his MLB debut for them on April 2nd, hitting a sacrifice fly for an RBI in his first plate appearance. After going hitless in his first 9 games with the Sox, he got his first big league hit on May 16th. Following that game, he was sent back to AAA when Hall was activated. After hitting .209 in 43 games with Charlotte, he was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles. He hit .364 in 22 games with the Bowie Baysox and then earned a second cup of coffee in the majors, appearing in 7 games with the O's at the end of the 2007 season. He made scattered appearances in the majors until 2011.

Molina became a manager with the ACL Reds in 2023.

While advancing through the White Sox organization, Molina earned a great deal of praise for his defensive skills. He is not related to the catching trio of Bengie, Jose and Yadier Molina, who are from Puerto Rico.