Johnny Bench congratulates Yadier Molina on surpassing him for innings caught

If it feels like Yadier Molina has been catching forever, it’s because he pretty much has.

Molina on Saturday surpassed Johnny Bench in career innings caught with 14,493.3, which places him 13th on the all-time list. The former Cincinnati Reds MVP sent his congratulations to the Cardinals catcher on the honor:

Congrats to Yadier Molina on passing me on the All-Time Innings Caught list, soon to be games. Crazy to be reminded it was 14,493 innings behind the plate. No wonder I had my hips replaced.

— Johnny Bench (@JohnnyBench_5) April 14, 2018

That many innings behind the plate sure is a trudge, which is something Molina recognizes.

“It’s an honor. I’m just blessed that God gave me health to be here. I feel good about it,” Molina said after Saturday’s game, via FS Midwest.

“I’ve met (Johnny) a few times — he’s one of the best. It’s huge. It’s just special to be on that list.”

At 35, Molina still has a ways to go to get to the top of the list, so he might not make it to Pudge Rodriguez territory. But just surpassing Bench shows how long he’s been doing it and how well he has, too.