Cardinals: Yadier Molina sets another franchise record with Opening Day start

St. Louis Cardinals backstop Yadier Molina sets yet another record for the Red Birds.

Longtime St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina set a record on 2021 MLB Opening Day.

By getting the start behind the dish vs. the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon, Molina will have started 17 consecutive Opening Days behind the plate for the Cardinals. This is a franchise record and only Baseball Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez has had more in his illustrious career with 20. In the twilight of his big-league career, Molina looks to be destined for Cooperstown as well.

Defensive excellence, longevity will help Yadier Molina make it to Cooperstown

Molina is a nine-time NL All-Star with the Cardinals, most recently playing in the Mid-Summer Classic back in 2018. He has won nine Gold Gloves and four Platinum Gloves. Molina has also earned one Silver Slugger and has won two World Series championships in Cardinals uniform. Though his career batting numbers are just okay, he will be inducted into the hall of fame one day.

Playing for one team and being a franchise cornerstone will help serve Molina in this regard. However, we have to wonder how many more years Molina has left in the tank. He signed a one-year deal to stay with the Red Birds this offseason. He will be a free agent next winter as well. It will probably be a year-by-year thing for him now, so we much cherish every moment he has left.

Every Opening Day for the last 17 years, Molina has started at catcher for the Cardinals.