Anthony Molina (baseball)

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Anthony Molina

|position=Pitcher

|team=Colorado Rockies

|number=43

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{birth date and age|2002|1|12}}

|birth_place=San Joaquín, Carabobo, Venezuela

|debutleague=MLB

|debutdate=March 28

|debutyear=2024

|debutteam=Colorado Rockies

|statyear = 2024 season

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 1–1

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 6.79

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 41

|teams=

Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2024}}–present)

}}

Anthony José Molina (born January 12, 2002) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Career

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On July 2, 2018, Molina signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as an international free agent.{{Cite web|title=Anthony Molina Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News|url=https://www.milb.com/player/anthony-molina-683627|access-date=April 26, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}} He made his professional debut the following year, logging a 3.23 ERA in 14 games for the Dominican Summer League Rays. Molina did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=April 26, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

He returned to action in 2021 with the rookie–level Florida Complex League Rays. In 12 appearances, Molina pitched to a 2.61 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 2 saves across 31 innings.{{Cite web|title=Anthony Molina - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/anthony-molina/26952/stats?position=P|access-date=April 26, 2024|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}} In 2022, he made 29 appearances split between the Single–A Charleston RiverDogs and High–A Bowling Green Hot Rods, accumulating a 14–2 record and 3.10 ERA with 85 strikeouts in {{fraction|95|2|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Anthony Molina - Baseball Stats|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/223774/|access-date=April 26, 2024|website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}}

Molina split the 2023 season between the Double–A Montgomery Biscuits and Triple–A Durham Bulls. Working primarily as a starting pitcher, he made 28 appearances (27 starts) and registered a 5–7 record and 4.50 ERA with 102 strikeouts across 122 innings of work.{{Cite web|title=Colorado Rockies prospects: No. 27, Anthony Molina|url=https://www.purplerow.com/2024/1/23/24043361/colorado-rockies-prospects-no-27-anthony-molina|access-date=April 26, 2024|website=purplerow.com|language=en}}

=Colorado Rockies=

On December 6, 2023, the Rockies selected Molina from the Rays in the Rule 5 draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rule-5-draft-results-2023|title=2023 Rule 5 Draft results: Pick by pick|first=Jonathan|last=Mayo|work=MLB.com|date=December 6, 2023|accessdate=December 6, 2023}}{{cite web | url=https://denversports.com/2109469/rockies-anthony-molina-rule-5/ | title=Rockies snag young righty from Rays, you'll see him in Denver | date=December 6, 2023 }} After competing for a spot on Colorado's Opening Day roster during spring training,{{Cite web |title=Rule 5 pick Molina learning about MLB life from Rox starters |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/anthony-molina-learning-from-german-marquez-antonio-senzatela |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} the team announced that he had made the roster.{{Cite web|title=NL West Notes: McCarthy, Barnhart, Molina, Slater|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/nl-west-notes-mccarthy-barnhart-molina-slater.html|access-date=March 25, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} Molina made his MLB debut on March 28, 2024, which was Opening Day. In 35 appearances for Colorado during his rookie campaign, he struggled to a 6.79 ERA with 41 strikeouts across {{fraction|59|2|3}} innings pitched.

Molina was optioned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes to begin the 2025 season.{{Cite web|title=Rockies' Anthony Molina: Optioned to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-anthony-molina-optioned-to-triple-a/|access-date=March 10, 2025|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}