Yankees activate C Jose Molina; send promising Cervelli to Triple-A

Yankees activate C Jose Molina

MINNEAPOLIS — The New York Yankees have activated backup catcher Jose Molina from the disabled list on Wednesday.

Molina has not played since May 7 because of a quadriceps injury. He is hitting .273 with one home run and six RBIs in 16 games as Jorge Posada’s backup. In five rehab games, Molina went 1 for 11 with a double and three walks.

“He’s healthy, so that is a good thing,” manager Joe Girardi said before the Yankees played the Minnesota Twins. “You hope the leg things are behind him. It’s good to have him back.”

Girardi said Posada likely will finish out the series against Minnesota on Thursday and Molina would get his first action this weekend against the Los Angeles Angels.

To make room for Molina, the Yankees sent promising prospect Francisco Cervelli to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 23-year-old Cervelli hit .269 with one homer and nine RBIs in 25 games. Girardi says Cervelli deserves a lot of credit for the Yankees’ improved play in the last two months.

“We took off when he got here,” Girardi said. “I don’t think that’s any accident. I think he had a lot to do with it.”

The Yankees were 13-14 when Cervelli was recalled on May 6. They went 36-20 in the 56 games he spent in pinstripes.

“He did a great job behind the plate. I think he grew up behind the plate,” Girardi said. “He took charge. Offensively, he did a nice job for us, too.”