The St. Louis Cardinals, with a 65-51 record, are leading the NL Central division with a three-game cushion over the Milwaukee Brewers before Thursday afternoon games.
That means legendary first baseman/designated hitter Albert Pujols will likely be a part of one last postseason experience, if the Cards manage to hold on and secure a spot.
He was signed before the season to be a bench piece and occasional spot starter, not to mention a mentor for the Cards’ young stars.
However, his role has become prominent with each passing game, as he has excelled as a part-time player.
He has been particularly hot since the All-Star break, as MLB insider Bob Nightengale explains.
“Albert Pujols is hitting .415 since the All-Star break with five homers and 15 RBI in 41 at-bats. He has produced 6,133 total bases in his career, just one behind #STLCards great Stan Musial for 2nd place on the all-time list. Hank Aaron is the all-time leader with 6,856,” Nightengale tweeted.
Albert Pujols is hitting .415 since the All-Star break with five homers and 15 RBI in 41 at-bats. He has produced 6,133 total bases in his career, just one behind #STLCards great Stan Musial for 2nd place on the all-time list. Hank Aaron is the all-time leader with 6,856.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 18, 2022
Pujols Still Has It
It’s not a huge sample, but still a very impressive one: the 42-year-old still can mash with the best of them.
Not only did he put on a show at the Home Run Derby and play in his last All-Star Game: he has been a star ever since the action restarted.
With his next hit he will tie or surpass a fellow Cardinals legend, Stan Musial, in total bases, another cool feat for his incredible career.
For the year, he has a .814 OPS, 11 home runs, and 35 RBI.
For a part-timer, that’s good production.
He is currently at 690 career home runs: it would be cool to see him reach 700, but that would be extremely difficult to achieve.
Still, his career has been one of the best this generation has seen.
It should be celebrated.
NEXT: Albert Pujols Gets Home Run No. 690 In Grand Fashion