Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Molina stood out in two years at Texas Tech and transferred to Arkansas as a junior in 2024. He dealt with ankle and control issues with the Razorbacks, causing him to go to the Brewers in the seventh round of the 2024 Draft. The Rangers acquired him in his first offseason in a deal for Grant Anderson, and he was moved again to the Cardinals at the 2025 Trade Deadline as part of the Phil Maton return. He finished with a 3.10 ERA, 119 strikeouts and 43 walks in 95 2/3 innings across Single-A and High-A in his first full season.

The 6-foot-2 southpaw sat 90-93 mph with his four-seamer in 2025 but got a healthy amount of whiffs on it thanks to impressive ride up in the zone. He showed improved velocity this spring, averaging 93.2 mph on the heater (touching 95.8) in a pair of Grapefruit League outings, and with the 18-20 inches of induced vertical break, the extra heat could make the fastball a plus pitch in his age-22 season. Molina typically earns his best grades for his low-80s changeup that gets almost exactly 10 mph separation from the four-seamer and a ton of fade and armside run, but he drops the release enough on the pitch that it could become a tell for upper-level bats. He showed both 82-85 mph sliders and 79-82 mph sweepers this spring and occasionally sprinkles in a slow mid-70s curve.

Even with the improved stuff, Molina must show he can find the zone more consistently as he climbs the ladder. His walk rate moved to the double-digits at High-A before the trade and escalated to 16.1 percent. He’ll need the breaking stuff, particularly the sweeper, to help keep batters off the predictability of his fastball-changeup mix and improve his starting chances.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Molina looked like a potential first-round pick early in his college career at Texas Tech and was invited to try out for the U.S. collegiate national team in the summer of 2023. He transferred to Arkansas for his junior season, during which he battled an ankle injury and control issues before the Brewers selected him in the seventh round last July. The Rangers acquired him in a January trade for Grant Anderson, and after the lefty got off to a strong start at two A-ball levels, the organization flipped him at the Trade Deadline to the Cardinals in the Phil Maton deal.

Though Molina's fastball sits at just 90-91 mph and tops out at 95, it's effective because it rides past bats at the top of the strike zone. His best pitch is a plus low-80s changeup that sinks and helps his heater work better. He employs two distinct breaking balls with depth and does a better job of landing his low-80s slider than his mid-70s curveball for strikes.

Molina tends to work up with his fastball and down with his secondary offerings, and he could use a pitch with more lateral movement. He has done a better job of throwing strikes in pro ball than he did with the Razorbacks, enhancing his chances of becoming a No. 4 or 5 starter. He carries 230 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame, so he'll have to stay on top of his conditioning.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Molina spent his first two college seasons at Texas Tech and was the Red Raiders' top starter in 2023. After attending the U.S. collegiate national team trials that summer, he transferred to Arkansas. He pitched well early in the season before an ankle injury and control issues limited his effectiveness down the stretch.

Molina depends on the carry of his fastball and the effectiveness of his changeup. Though he only averages 90 mph and tops out at 95 with his heater, he throws it two-thirds of the time and gets swings and misses thanks to its carry through the strike zone. His plus changeup grades as his best pitch, fading and sinking in the low 80s and helping his fastball play up.

While Molina features two distinct breaking balls with depth, he has trouble landing his low-80s slider and mid-70s curveball for strikes and often misses badly with his curve. He threw more strikes at Texas Tech than he did this spring, and he'll need to do a better job of locating his offerings against pro hitters because he has little margin for error. His body got thicker this year, carrying 230 pounds on a 6-foot-2 frame, and he'll have to devote more time to conditioning.

Awards

CAR Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
04/20/2025

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	04/01/2026	LHP Mason Molina assigned to Springfield Cardinals from Peoria Chiefs.
	02/24/2026	LHP Mason Molina assigned to St. Louis Cardinals.
	08/03/2025	Peoria Chiefs activated LHP Mason Molina.
	07/31/2025	St. Louis Cardinals traded RHP Phil Maton to Texas Rangers for LHP Mason Molina, RHP Skylar Hales and Future Considerations. International Bonus Pool Money.
	07/31/2025	LHP Mason Molina assigned to Peoria Chiefs.
	06/20/2025	LHP Mason Molina assigned to Hub City Spartanburgers from Hickory Crawdads.
	04/03/2025	LHP Mason Molina assigned to Hickory Crawdads.
	03/25/2025	Hickory Crawdads activated LHP Mason Molina.
	03/25/2025	LHP Mason Molina assigned to Texas Rangers.
	01/02/2025	Texas Rangers traded RHP Grant Anderson to Milwaukee Brewers for LHP Mason Molina.
	01/02/2025	LHP Mason Molina assigned to Hub City Spartanburgers.
	01/02/2025	Hub City Spartanburgers activated LHP Mason Molina.
	09/15/2024	LHP Mason Molina assigned to Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from Carolina Mudcats.
	08/27/2024	LHP Mason Molina assigned to Carolina Mudcats.
	07/24/2024	Milwaukee Brewers signed LHP Mason Molina.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated LHP Mason Molina.
	02/12/2024	LHP Mason Molina assigned to Arkansas Razorbacks.
	06/29/2023	College Workout activated LHP Mason Molina.
	06/26/2023	LHP Mason Molina assigned to USAB Stripes Team.
	06/26/2023	LHP Mason Molina roster status changed by USAB Stripes Team.
	02/24/2023	LHP Mason Molina assigned to Texas Tech Red Raiders.
	02/08/2022	LHP Mason Molina and assigned to Texas Tech Red Raiders.
	06/18/2020	LHP Mason Molina assigned to PG National 12 - White.
	06/18/2020	LHP Mason Molina assigned to PG National 12 - White.