Two former Cardinals legends will soon face off as rival managers in the Dominican Winter League. In a surprising twist, Yadier Molina, who had recently served as a special assistant to Cardinals president John Mozeliak, has returned to the coaching scene. This time, he’ll lead Aguilas Cibaenas, taking on an old friend and teammate in the league.
Earlier this year, Albert Pujols was named manager of Leones del Escogido, a team he played for during the 2021-2022 offseason before rejoining the Cardinals for his farewell 2022 season. This marks Pujols’ first managing role, and he’s off to a strong start with a 7-3 record, putting his team in first place.
Meanwhile, Molina’s Aguilas squad started at the bottom with a 2-7 record. In his first game as their manager on Monday night, he guided them to a 6-4 win. Former Cardinal Rafael Furcal has also joined Molina’s staff as third-base coach. The two teams will clash on November 5.
While this is Pujols’ first official managerial stint, Molina has previous experience, having managed Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and worked with teams in Puerto Rican and Venezuelan winter leagues. Both players have expressed aspirations to manage professionally, with Pujols recently hinting at the possibility in an interview.
For Cardinals fans dreaming of one of these legends returning to manage in St. Louis, the wait will continue. However, their time in the Dominican League offers invaluable experience that could one day benefit the MLB team. Fans are hopeful that both Molina and Pujols will keep St. Louis in mind if the opportunity to coach in the big leagues arises.
Leave a Reply