Rodolfo (RJ)
Molina

Rodolfo (RJ) Molina, Salpointe Catholic (AZ), 2021 
Positional Profile: 2B/OF 
Body: 5-6, 135-pounds. Medium frame, lean athletic body, deceptive strength.
Hit: LHH. Athletic spread out base, slightly open crouched stance. Uses a leg lift while hands work slightly back. Good rhythm & body control throughout the load.  Mid/ pull approach, accelerates on plane quickly with short level swing & tight turn.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity via Trackman. 
Arm: Right-handed. INF - 82 mph. OF - 84 mph. Above average arm strength coming out of frame with short arm action. Quick clean transfers & release.
Defense: High motor infielder with clean athletic footwork in the infield, showing quickness and confidence. Soft hands with easy glove work. Also worked out in the OF and let his natural athleticism take over. 
Run: 7.16 runner in the 60.

1/27/19 – 5’ 6 135-pound frame. Quiet set up at the plate until quick leg lift and small stride. Compact swing with good extension. Sequence from ground up to get everything out of his body. 82 MPH exit velo. Uses glove pat to keep rhythm while shuffling to 1B. Approaches the ball under control. Can work through baseball with more momentum to cut down distance and help choose hops more effectively. 77 across the diamond.

On the mound, lands slightly closed which adds angle and deception. Ability to throw strikes with multiple pitches. Fastball topped at 78, sitting mostly 75-77. Curve at 60-63 with depth and also for strikes.

10/14/18 - 5-foot-6, 135-pound frame. The athletic looking, developing middle infielder has a balanced set-up. Shows quick hands offensively with a really compact swing. Molina really gets the most out of his present strength and is consistent with finding barrels. Defensively, plays a tad upright. Still shows the ability to be an effective defender. Hands play a little stiff but is still able to make all routine plays and displays a 78 mph arm across the diamond. Ran 7.28 60-yard dash. On the mound, Molina throws a 3 pitch mix for strikes. Displays an above average change-up with arm side fade at 74-74. Fastball sits 77-77, T81 with some arm side run. Shows a developing CB with low spin rate 65-68 mph.

6/6/18 - Smaller 5-foot-6, 130-pound frame. Molina hit from a balanced, slightly open stance from the left side. Simple stroke with limited lower half engagement at times. Appeared to want to get extended even when going the other way, let the ball get very deep; 78 mph exit velocity. Impressive actions of the infield. Middle infield profile. Played around and through the ball replacing his feet. Light on feet, smooth hands, clean exchange, and fast arm; 76 mph infield velocity. Recorded a solid 7.09 60-yard dash. Also ran his fastball up to 78 mph from a high ¾ arm slot on the mound. Compact arm action. Accepts force on front leg and rotates into front hip well. Curveball was thrown at 61-65 mph with sharp 11/5 break. Also showed a change up at 69 mph.

5/20/18 - 5-foot-6, 130-pound frame. Molina has an intriguing toolset, turning in a 7.12 60-yard dash and running his fastball up to 81 mph on the mound. Molina sat 77-79, using a three-piece arm action and aggressive delivery with big intent and some recoil. He also showed the ability to throw his 12-6 curveball with big break at 65-68 mph in the strike zone and flashed a straight change at 74-76. His left-handed swing is almost too short, with very little hand movement and a steep path, but he appears to be the type of athlete that will figure it out. Turned in 78 mph exit velocity. Shows twitchy feet and workable hands on the infield, making plays to both side and throwing the ball across the diamond at 78 mph from a higher slot.