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“I was like, ‘Why not go over there and watch some baseball and try to help the team get better?’� Molina said. “We’ve got some young guys that really need some experience, experience that I can bring them and show them. I’m happy to help.�

Molina, a two-time World Series winner and 10-time All-Star with the Cardinals, returned to Busch Stadium Friday for the Cardinals’ series opener against the Cubs as a guest coach following the invite from Marmol. The opportunity put Molina back in a Cardinals uniform and in the dugout at Busch Stadium for the first time since playing in his final game in 2022.

“I feel happy right now to be back home,� Molina said. “This is great. To go out to the field and spend time with the players, the coaches. And obviously at night with the fans, it’s going to be a good experience.�

While a guest coach for Friday and Saturday, Molina said he looked to work with Cardinals catchers, along with the rest of the players in the Cardinals’ clubhouse. Marmol noted Molina hoped to “lay low� and have one-on-one conversations with players over the next two days.

During Friday’s pregame, Molina could be seen in the outfield observing practice and shared a conversation with Yohel Pozo as the two walked off the field after Pozo caught a bullpen.

“Everybody talks about Yadi, right? He was one of the greatest players here on this team,� Pozo said before heading out to the field for pregame workouts. “Catching on this team means a lot. ... It’s great to be here and help the pitchers, help the team and all that. Having him here and hearing from him, everything that he is about to say is going to be great.�

Back at Busch Stadium for just the second time since his retirement, Molina said he doesn’t miss playing but does miss being around the field. He expressed appreciation for the city of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½. The franchise icon exchanged lineup cards with Cubs manager Craig Counsell before Friday’s first pitch and received an ovation from the Busch Stadium crowd.

“They care about me. They care about my family. It’s going to be a great night for me. ... I’m looking forward to that,� said Molina, who spent 19 seasons with the Cardinals.

Molina, who managed Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic and managed in the Dominican Winter League, has his sights set on a career in coaching in the future. Molina said he is currently concentrating on spending time with his family.

The nine-time Gold Glove award winner and four-time Platinum Glove winner said he may likely pursue coaching after his son, Yanuell, who is a high school senior, finishes school after the 2025-2026 academic school year.

Molina, 43, said guest coaching experiences like this weekend are ones he would be open to in the near future, including later this season. But for this weekend, his presence gives the young Cardinals players an added presence in the clubhouse and in the dugout.

“He (Molina) just has a really unique way of communicating what it takes to be a winning player, not just a good player,� Marmol said. “I’ve said that a couple different times today, but there’s a difference between a good player and a winning player. It’s great when you’re a good winning player, but I’ll take the winning player all day long.

“He has a unique way of expressing what it takes to really devote yourself to the game, and what it takes to be that good in a way that I think could be pretty influential and impactful to some of our young guys.�

Arenado reports to Jupiter

Third baseman Nolan Arenado arrived in Jupiter, Florida, on Thursday and reported to the Cardinals’ complex Friday, where he will go through a program to rebuild strength in his right shoulder and get “his body right� before returning to baseball activity, Marmol said. Arenado’s program could last from seven to 10 days, Marmol noted.

Arenado, 34, was placed on the injured list on Aug. 1. At the time, a timeline for when he could return to the Cardinals’ lineup was not available.

King nears rehab assignment

Left-handed reliever John King (left oblique strain) said he plans to throw a higher intensity bullpen on Saturday as he nears a rehab assignment, which could begin as early as Tuesday.

King said he took four days off after straining his left oblique on July 29. King, who is on the 15-day IL, took four days off from throwing after the injury but has since been able to return to full baseball activity. The lefty said he threw a bullpen on Thursday at around “50-60%� intensity.

Extra bases

Although Jorge Alcala had a locker inside the Cardinals’ clubhouse on Friday, the recently acquired right-handed reliever is expected to report to the Cardinals by Sunday, Marmol said. The Cardinals were awarded the waiver claim of Alcala, 30, on Thursday.

Willson Contreras returned to the Cardinals lineup with a start at first base in the series opener against the Cubs after a stomach illness kept him unavailable from Wednesday’s road series finale against the Dodgers.

Cardinals prospect Quinn Mathews struck out nine batters and completed a season-high seven scoreless innings on Thursday in a start for Class AAA Memphis. Mathews, the Cardinals’ top pitching prospect entering this season, matched a season-high in strikeouts with his Thursday outing.