With Yadier Molina retired, things are going to be different for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Molina had been the team’s Opening Day catcher every year since 2005 and had become a legend in the City of St. Louis.
The star catcher retired after the 2022 season along with Albert Pujols.
However, the team’s new catcher, Willson Contreras, found a way to channel his inner Molina on Monday night when he threw a rocket to second base and nabbed Ronald Acuna Jr. who was attempting to steal.
On Twitter, Bally Sports Midwest, the TV home of the Cardinals, posted a video of Contreras showing off his arm.
RIGHT ON THE MONEY! 💰 Willson Contreras throws out Ronald Acuña Jr.! #STLCards
TV: Bally Sports Midwest
Stream: https://t.co/mXdDp7kepm pic.twitter.com/rg3AiLis8L— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) April 3, 2023
Cardinals fans always enjoyed watching Molina stop would-be base stealers in their tracks.
It got to the point where Cardinals fans wanted to make sure every opposing player knew what Molina was capable of by saying “Don’t run on Yadi.”
While the future Hall-of-Famer is certainly missed, Contreras gave fans a reason to be excited about the future and the new era behind the dish that has begun in St. Louis.
Much like every instance when Molina threw out an attempting base stealer, Acuna didn’t appear to have much of a chance against Contreras, who got right up from the crouch and delivered a strike to Tommy Edman.
Edman put the tag on the speedy Acuna and helped erase a leadoff base-hit.
The Cardinals ultimately fell by a final of 8-4, but Contreras certainly put on a show with his arm and gave fans some shades of Molina by picking off Acuna.
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