Molinaro's career in professional baseball began on June 7, 1968, when he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the second round of the 1968 MLB draft. Molinaro signed with the Tigers 10 days later. Molinaro was then assigned to the rookie class Gulf Coast League Tigers for the 1968 season. He was promoted to Class A the following season and played in the Carolina League for the Rocky Mount Leafs in 1969. After the 1969 season, Molinaro was once again promoted up the ranks of the Tigers' system to Class Double A where he would spend the next two seasons, 1970 and 1971, playing for the Montgomery Rebels of the Southern League. In 1972 Molinaro finally moved up to Triple A and played the season with the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League. In 1973 he returned to Toledo and also spent time back with the Rebels. After that, he played from 1974 through 1977 for the Tigers' new Triple A club, the Evansville Triplets of the American Association.
Major league baseball
Molinaro made his major league debut for the Detroit Tigers on September 18, 1975, and went on to play five more games for the Tigers that season, plus a single game in 1977. On September 22 of that year, Molinaro was selected off waivers by the Chicago White Sox, and he played in four games for the White Sox that season. Molinaro played a full season with the White Sox in 1978, before heading back to the minor leagues for the 1979 season, which saw him play for the American Association's Iowa Oaks. Molinaro did have another brief stay in the major leagues in 1979 when he played eight games for the Baltimore Orioles. Once again, he was back in a White Sox uniform, and playing full-time for them in 1980 and 1981. After two more years with the White Sox, Molinaro was sent to the Chicago Cubs on March 29, 1982 to complete an earlier deal made on August 15, 1981. The White Sox sent a player to be named later to the Cubs, also for a player to be named later, who turned out to be Lynn McGlothen. The White Sox eventually sent Molinaro to the Cubs to complete the trade. After starting the 1982 season with the Cubs and seeing 65 games of action, Molinaro was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies on August 31 and finished the season with the Phillies, seeing playing time in 19 games. The 1983 season was Molinaro's last in the majors. After returning to the Phillies and playing in 19 games, he was released on June 6 and found himself back in the minor league's this time playing for the Triple A Indianapolis Indians. A return to the Major Leagues came that September when on the 1st Molinaro was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers. Molinaro only played eight more Major League games with his return to the Tigers. Molinaro's career came to a close after sitting out the 1984 season, although he returned to play one last pro season with the Triple A International League's Rochester Red Wings in 1985. In between, he pitched winter ball with the Leones del Caracas club of the Venezuelan League between the 1977 and 1979 seasons.
