On Wednesday, Puerto Rico’s baseball federation officially announced that Yadier Molina will return as the national team’s manager for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
¡Repite #ElLíder! ????⚾️????????
Yadier Molina repite como dirigente de #LosNuestros para el @WBCBaseball.
Con su liderazgo, experiencia y compromiso patrio, Puerto Rico se prepara para escribir un nuevo capítulo en su historia.#TeamRubio pic.twitter.com/TqbIjA2XAy
— Federación de Béisbol ???????? (@BeisbolPR) June 18, 2025
Molina previously managed Puerto Rico in the 2023 edition of the tournament, leading the team to a strong 3-1 record in pool play that was highlighted by an upset win over the favored Dominican Republic. Puerto Rico advanced to the quarterfinals, where they were narrowly defeated by Mexico in one of the most thrilling games of the tournament, 5-4.
Before stepping into a managerial role, Molina was a key player for Puerto Rico in the first four editions of the WBC. Over 20 career games, he posted a .306 batting average with two home runs. His 20 appearances rank second all-time among Puerto Rican players in WBC history, behind only Carlos Beltrán.
Molina played 19 seasons in MLB, all with the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2,224 games played, Molina hit 176 home runs and had a line of .277/.327/.399. He was named an All-Star 10 times and was the receipient of 9 Gold Gloves.
Yadier Molina previously managed Criollos de Caguas in the Puerto Rico winter league. This past winter, he also managed the Águilas Cibaeñas in the Dominican Republic. The Puerto Rican legend is looking to bring Puerto Rico its first ever WBC championship next year.
Puerto Rico will host Pool A of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. The group will feature Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia. Puerto Rico is set to open the tournament on March 6, 2026, against Colombia.
