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Albert Pujols returning to Cardinals, says he will retire after 2022 MLB season
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Legendary first baseman and sure Corridor of Famer Albert Pujols on Monday introduced he’ll retire following the 2022 MLB season, telling reporters, “That is it.”
Pujols will end his profession the place he began, as he agreed to a one-year $2.5 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, reuniting the franchise with one in all its most adorned gamers of all time. He’ll put on uniform No. 5, which the group by no means reissued following its 2011 World Collection championship season.
“We’re happy and excited to have Albert return to the Cardinals for the upcoming season,” stated Cardinals Chairman Invoice DeWitt, Jr., in an announcement. “This reunion with Albert is a superb alternative for not solely him and the Cardinals, but in addition for our nice followers, the St. Louis neighborhood, our gamers and workers, and everybody related to the St. Louis Cardinals group. We look ahead to seeing Albert within the ‘Birds on the Bat’ as soon as once more, and sporting his acquainted uniform quantity 5.”
St. Louis Cardinals’ Albert Pujols hits a solo house run throughout the ninth inning of Sport 3 of baseball’s World Collection towards the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, on this, Oct. 22, 2011, file photograph.
(AP Photograph/Eric Homosexual, File)
The signing will give Pujols, 42, an obvious retirement tour with the group that drafted him in 1999 and for the place he performed his first 11 years within the MLB.
“Seldom does one get to share in watching or being part of ‘residing’ historical past,” stated Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak. “From the day we referred to as Albert’s identify within the draft room again in 1999, to now, as we set our sights on 2022, this reunion simply is smart in so some ways. We’re all wanting ahead to reuniting Albert along with his Cardinals household, and for the fan in all of us, together with myself, this appears like wanting by way of the pages of a favourite scrapbook or baseball card album and seeing these photos and reminiscences bounce off the pages.”
Pujols made his debut for the Cardinals in 2001 at age 21 and instantly made an influence. He gained the Rookie of the 12 months award in 2001, made the All-Star group and completed fourth in NL MVP voting.
His unprecedented success continued for 11 seasons with the Cardinals, as he compiled a .328 batting common, 445 house runs and 1.329 RBI with the group. He earned NL MVP honors in 2005, 2008 and 2009 — and gained two World Collection titles in 2006 and 2011.
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Regardless of not taking part in till 2001, Pujols holds the 2000s decade NL “Triple Crown” for batting (.334), house runs (336) and RBI (1,112).
After celebrating the title in 2011, Pujols signed a 10-year, $240-million cope with the Los Angeles Angels.
Pujols performed in 1,181 video games for the Angels, the place he batted .256, hit 22 house runs and drove in 783 runs. Pujols was launched by the Angels final Might, just some months earlier than his contract ended.
Los Angeles Angels star Albert Pujols hits a three-run double throughout the third inning of a baseball sport towards the Seattle Mariners Monday, Sept. 15, 2014, in Anaheim, Calif.
(AP Photograph/Jae C. Hong)
Pujols performed for the Los Angeles Dodgers this previous season, and the Cardinals think about he’ll play an identical function for them.
Whereas his manufacturing is not what it as soon as was, Pujols may have the possibility to be the right-handed designated hitter towards left-handed pitchers or come off the bench in a deterrent roll in late innings, the St. Louis Submit-Dispatch reported.
The transfer can also be a reunion for Cardinals supervisor Oliver Marmol, who has identified Pujols for the reason that coach was drafted by St. Louis as a participant in 2007, he instructed Fox Information Digital final week.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Albert Pujols follows by way of after hitting a solo house run towards the New York Mets throughout the first inning of a baseball sport in Los Angeles, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021.
(AP Photograph/Alex Gallardo)
Over his profession, Pujols is a 10-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger. He at the moment ranks fifth on the MLB all-time house run listing, with 679. He’s 18 homers shy of passing Alex Rodriguez for fourth all-time.
The Cardinals open the season at Busch Stadium on April 7 with a matchup towards the Pittsburgh Pirates.