The Hall of Fame-worthy career of Albert Pujols is coming full circle. According to multiple reports, Pujols is returning to St. Louis, the place where he started his MLB career, after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Cardinals.
The deal is worth $2.5 million and will see Pujols joining his former franchise in a two-way role. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the 42-year-old player will serve as a late-game pinch-hitter and designated hitter against left-handers.
Pujols is coming to St. Louis after splitting the 2021 MLB seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and the LA Dodgers. He had a surprisingly productive spell with the Dodgers, playing in 85 games and having a batting average of .254 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI. The Dominican veteran also played well in the postseason but could not help the Dodgers defend their World Series title.
The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Albert Pujols in the 13th round of the 1999 MLB Draft. He made his majors debut in 2001, marking the start of one of the most dominant stretches by a player in baseball history.
During his 11 seasons with the Cardinals, Pujols made nine All-Star appearances, won three NL MVP awards, led the league in homers twice, and won numerous other accolades. He also helped St. Louis make three World Series and win two of them.
Pujols, who spent the second decade of his MLB career with the Angels, has hit .297 for his career.
He has a total of 3,301 hits in the majors to go with 679 homers and 2,150 RBIs.
