Cards fans can expect to see a little bit less of star catcher Yadier Molina this season, not because of a drastic loss in playing time, but rather because the 6-time All Star backstop lost 15-20 pounds over the offseason just working to get in better shape. Brian Stull of St. Louis Baseball Weekly provides the details:

“There was no goal,” shared Molina, who said he lost 15-20lbs just working to get in better shape and not to lose a specific amount.

“I think historically, Yadi has come into camp in leaner shape if you will,” agreed General Manager John Mozeliak. “This off-season he looked like he hit it really hard. I think he’s looking at sort of longevity of career and how to help manage that. If he feels like losing some weight benefits him for that, I think it’s great.”

Molina will turn 33 in July and has logged 10,877 career innings–and that does not include his time behind the plate in 86 post-season games.

Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright expressed his amazement of Molina’s physical condition:

“Yadier continues to amaze me in a million different ways,” continued Wainwright. “As he gets older, he just keeps getting better and I think he knew he needed to slim down maybe for his knees or he just feels better lighter, I don’t know. But he looks great.”

Stull added that Molina, who’s played over 70 innings at the position, could see some time at first base in 2015 in an attempt to keep the 33-year-old healthy.

Read Stull’s full article from St. Louis Baseball Weekly.

 

Feature image used under Creative Commons from Barbara Moore. No changes made. Image License.