Cardinals’ Albert Pujols to make 22nd consecutive opening day start

Albert Pujols shall be within the beginning lineup for the St. Louis Cardinals towards the Pittsburgh Pirates when he begins his last massive league season Thursday in what ought to be an emotional return to Busch Stadium.

Cardinals supervisor Oliver Marmol introduced Monday that Pujols, who signed a $2.5 million contract to return to the membership the place he turned a star, would be the designated hitter for his twenty second straight opening day begin. That matches Hank Aaron and Carl Yastrzemski for second-most behind solely Pete Rose, who made 23 straight throughout his profession.

“I don’t need to set expectations as a result of I prefer to be stunned, so I’m simply going to take pleasure in it,” Pujols stated as he headed into the previous few days of spring coaching in Jupiter, Florida. “I’m certain it will likely be emotional for me, and the followers, too. However my focus is on making an attempt to get within the reps I have to get myself prepared for this season.”

Later Monday, the 10-time All-Star issued an announcement confirming that he had filed for divorce from his spouse, Deidre, after 22 years of marriage. Deidre Pujols underwent surgical procedure final week to take away a mind tumor found in October.

“I notice this isn’t essentially the most opportune time with opening day approaching and different household occasions which have not too long ago taken place,” Pujols stated. “These conditions are by no means straightforward and it is one thing that simply occurred in a single day. As a religious Christian, that is an end result that I by no means needed to see occur.”

Pujols requested for “our privateness and the privateness of our 5 kids throughout this time.”

On the sector, Pujols may relieve Paul Goldschmidt at first base at occasions this season, and he was anticipated to get a bit of work there this week earlier than the membership heads again to St. Louis. In any other case, the Cardinals view him as a chosen hitter and late-inning pinch hitter, together with a presence in a clubhouse that has a pleasant mixture of the outdated and new.

The 42-year-old Pujols and his shut buddy, Yadier Molina, have already got stated this shall be their last massive league season. That additionally could possibly be the case for right-hander Adam Wainwright, who joined the opposite two in bringing World Collection championships to St. Louis in 2006 and 2011.

ALBERT PUJOLS RETURNING TO CARDINALS, SAYS HE WILL RETIRE AFTER 2022 MLB SEASON

St. Louis Cardinals’ Albert Pujols (5) appears at his bat within the first inning of a spring coaching baseball recreation towards the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in West Palm Seashore, Fla.
(AP Photograph/Sue Ogrocki)

Pujols, who returns to St. Louis with 679 profession dwelling runs, hit .236 with 17 homers final season whereas splitting time with the Angels and Dodgers. However the three-time NL MVP confirmed he can nonetheless be a pressure towards left-handed pitching, hitting .294 with 13 homers in simply 136 at-bats and making him a gorgeous depth piece for the Cardinals.

“This man is unquestionably dialed in,” Marmol stated. “He’s on a mission to complete properly. He’s in form, he’s feeling properly and together with his timing, each time he will get an at-bat, he feels higher. From a psychological and bodily standpoint, he’s able to go.”

The 40-year-old Wainwright was picked to begin opening day on Saturday, although the announcement merely made official what nearly everybody anticipated. It is going to be the sixth time he is taken the ball on opening day for St. Louis.

“Me and people two guys are the final ones nonetheless right here, and it’s particular to have them with me as I’m ending my profession,” Pujols stated. “Hopefully we’ll get yet one more run at a title. That may make it so excellent.”

St. Louis Cardinals’ Albert Pujols hits a solo dwelling run through the ninth inning of Recreation 3 of baseball’s World Collection towards the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, on this Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, file picture. 
(AP Photograph/Eric Homosexual, File)

In different information Monday, the Cardinals positioned right-hander Jack Flaherty on the injured record and introduced that rookie pitcher Andre Pallante had earned the final spot on the 28-man roster following a powerful spring coaching.

The Cardinals had already indicated they don’t count on Flaherty again for the primary month of the season. Their opening day starter the previous two years obtained a platelet-rich plasma injection on March 18 to alleviate irritation in his shoulder, and he has been coping with a small tear in his proper labrum that could possibly be compounding the restoration.

Flaherty went 9-2 with a 3.22 ERA in 15 begins and 17 appearances for the Cardinals final season.

The Cardinals optioned right-hander Jake Walsh to Triple-A Memphis on Monday whereas reassigning left-hander Connor Thomas, catcher Julio Rodriguez and infielder Cory Spangenberg to the minors.