Durham, N.C. — The San Francisco Giants have purchased the contract of Winnipeg Goldeyes RHP Nestor Molina, the American Association announced on Wednesday.
Molina was acquired by Winnipeg from the Joplin Blasters earlier in December. In 2015, his first season with Joplin, Molina led the club with 17 games started and 7 wins to go along with a 3.11 ERA, ninth-best in the league, as well as 71 strikeouts.
Previously, the native of Valencia, Venezuela, spent nine seasons in the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays organizations, reaching as high as Triple-A in 2012. He began his career as a position player, but switched to pitching full-time in 2008.
Molina, 26, is the first Winnipeg or Joplin player to have his contract purchased by a major-league organization in 2015, and the 20th American Association player overall.
