Molina’s Puerto Rico team continued its unbeaten run through the WBC on Saturday with a 13-2 drubbing of Venezuela. The Cardinals’ Gold Glove catcher has captained his national team to Monday’s semifinal at Dodger Stadium, but it’s been Puerto Rico’s jamboree of infielders that has captivated the tournament’s fans. Team Puerto Rico has three major league-level shortstops in its infield, and each groundball is a chance for them to outdo each other, with a smile. Correa, 22, has strength at third. Javier Baez, 24, adds sleight of hand at second. And Francisco Lindor, 23, is so reliably nimble at shortstop that he’s the one starting there.

What that trio “can do is amazing,” Cora said in a phone conversation Friday before Puerto Rico’s victory against Team USA. “This is their stage. This is something for all of us to be very proud of. It’s like this passing of the torch.”

Watching, a few exchanges away from his turn, is Perez.

While Baez was an October sensation for the Cubs, Cleveland’s Lindor and Correa headline the best wave of shortstops to reach the majors since Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. Either could be an MVP candidate this season. Perez drew comparisons from scouts to both as a high schooler in Puerto Rico. Those are heady (even unfair) descriptions, but Perez recognizes he can draw inspiration from them.