One of the most prolific hitters in baseball history might not be ready to hang up his spikes.
Three-time MVP slugger Albert Pujols plans to play winter ball in his native Dominican Republic in hopes of showcasing himself for the 2022 major league season, as he wants to play next season, the Orange County Register reported Thursday.
Pujols will play for in the Dominican for Escogido, which acquired his rights in a Thursday trade. He has never played winter ball in the Dominican, where the season ends in January.
¡Si, leyeron bien! Albert Pujols es nuestro nuevo LEON, quien llega a nuestro equipo via cambio desde los Gigantes que reciben a Edward Paredes y Melky Mesa. ¡RUGE! #LaTemporadadelSiglo #CentenarioRojo pic.twitter.com/VXRmfFzHF9
— Escogido Baseball (@EscogidoBBClub) October 28, 2021
The Santo Domingo native, who turns 42 in January, just completed his 21st major league season.
Pujols surely would not cost nearly as much as the last time he hit free agency, when he inked a landmark 10-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels following the 2011 season after 11 years of elite production with the St. Louis Cardinals.
He did not finish that contract with the Angels, who released him in early May after Pujols hit just .198 with five homers in 24 games. But the veteran rebounded after joining the crosstown Dodgers less than two weeks later. Pujols became a valuable plug-and-play as a first baseman and pinch hitter, hitting .254 with 12 home runs in 85 games over the final 4 1/2 months, perhaps adding to his future value.
Regardless of whether or not he returns next season, the longtime first baseman/designated hitter has cemented his Hall of Fame-worthy legacy. Pujols ranks fifth on baseball’s all-time home-run list with 679 and third with 2,150 RBIs while holding a .297 career batting average. The 10-time .300 hitter has surpassed 30 homers in a season 14 times and 40 or more seven times.
Pujols won World Series championships with the Cardinals in 2006 and 2011. He has made 10 All-Star teams and six Silver Slugger squads.
–Field Level Media