Daniel Molinari - Baseball Coach - SMC California Athletics

Daniel Molinari

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
dm81@stmarys-ca.edu

Daniel Molinari joined the Gaels coaching staff in 2024 after spending two years as the catching coach at Cañada College under head coach Tony Lucca. In those two seasons, each year’s starting catcher transferred on to NCAA programs on a scholarship after their time at Cañada College, including a backstop that led the North Coast Conference in runners thrown out.

Last season, Molinari led another stellar catching group for the Gaels including true freshman Ian Armstrong. Armstrong won over the starting job after the first two weeks of the season with both his offensive and defensive ability. The El Granada native finished the season with .364 batting average, 55 hits, five home runs and 40 RBI helping anchor the bottom of the batting order for Saint Mary's. Defensivley, Armstrong also threw out eleven runners and finished the 2025 season with a .992 fielding percentage. Armstrong went on to be named to the All-WCC Second Team and WCCAll-Freshman team, the second consecutive season the Gaels have had a freshman catches named to the team.

In his first season as a Gael, Molinari worked with true freshman catcher, Connor "Bear" Harrison, and helped him earn a spot on the WCC All-Freshman Team with a .322 batting average and a .990 fielding percentage. Harrison led the team and threw out nine runners during the 2024 season to rank inside the top-10 in the conference. Senior Nathan Chong also saw time behind the dish and belted a career high 13 home runs with a .270 average.

The Palo Alto native spent five seasons playing professionally, including with the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Pioneer league and Lake Country Dockhounds of the American Association. In 2022, Molinari finished top three among American Association catchers in runners thrown out at 30% and led all catchers in fielding percentage with a perfect 1.000%. Molinari also represented the Brazilian National team in the 2019 Pan Am qualifiers, the 2020 World Baseball Classic under MLB Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, and the 2022 World Baseball Classic under MLB veterans Steve Finley and Latroy Hawkins. He finished his professional playing career as a .316 lifetime hitter with a .499 slugging percentage and a .931 OPS.

Before his professional career he played two years at De Anza College under Head Coach Erick Raich. He was the starting catcher and team captain in both of his seasons in Cupertino and was the team leader in doubles and RBI his sophomore year. After twice leading the Don’s to a Junior College regional, Molinari transferred to Limestone University under Head Coach Chris Wiley. There he played in 35 games and slashed .326 with 10 RBI and a .421 slugging percentage while majoring in history, pre-law.

Molinari played his high school baseball at Junipero Serra High School under Head Coach Craig Giannino and also played varsity water polo under Head Coach Bob green before graduating in 2014.