Pujols, 42, returns to St. Louis for final season
JUPITER, FLA. » With a wave of his hand and a tip of the cap, Albert Pujols walked back into the world of the St. Louis Cardinals for one final season.
“This is it for me,” the Pujols said Monday. “This is my last run.”
It was quite a scene as Pujols rejoined the Redbirds. Wearing a big smile and his familiar red No. 5 jersey, he emerged from beyond the right field wall at Roger Dean Stadium between the first and second innings of a game against Houston.
Cardinals pitchers, catchers and coaches sitting on chairs far down the line stood to acknowledge the three-time NL MVP, as did the fans in the stands. Pujols strolled to the St. Louis dugout on the first base side, where he was greeted with hearty hugs and high-fives.
“I had to put a little smile on,” Pujols said. “I was getting a little emotional.”
All these years later, the slugger who helped win two World Series championship was home.
The Cardinals and Pujols agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract, giving him a chance to end his career in the place where it started. He returns with 679 career home runs.
“Seldom does one get to share in watching or being a part of ‘living’ history,” Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said. “From the day we called Albert’s name in the draft room back in 1999, to now, as we set our sights on 2022, this reunion just makes sense in so many ways.”
“We are all looking forward to reuniting Albert with his Cardinals family, and for the fan in all of us, including myself, this feels like looking through the pages of a favorite scrapbook or baseball card album and seeing those images and memories jump off the pages.”
Pujols spent part of Monday video conferencing with 39-year-old catcher Yadier Molina, his teammate for eight seasons.
“I’m happy for him to be here,” said Molina, who likely is in his final season, too. “It’s going to be a fun year.”
Pujols played his first 11 years in St. Louis, teaming with Molina to lead the Cardinals to the 2006 and 2011 World Series titles. Pujols doesn’t swing nearly as fearsome a bat as he did during his heyday, but the Cardinals decided they have a spot for a designated hitter who can hit left-handed pitching. Pujols needs 21 homers to become the fourth career major leaguer to hit 700 in a career.
Kershaw ready to play his part for Dodgers
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. » The Los Angeles Dodgers have so many stars that Clayton Kershaw is just one of the guys.
But there’s little doubt the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner is still an extremely important piece for one of MLB’s best teams.
Kershaw threw four scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks Monday, facing the minimum of 12 batters. He gave up a leadoff single to Carson Kelly before coaxing a double play and retiring 11 straight hitters.
“I think overall the fastball command was a lot better today,” Kershaw said. “If I can get ahead of hitters, it’s a good thing. For the most part, another good step forward.”
Much has been made of the Dodgers’ powerful lineup, with free agent first basemen Freddie Freeman. But they look more vulnerable on the mound. They have three stars atop the rotation in Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Julio Urías but questions beyond that.
Clevinger back after second Tommy John
PEORIA, ARIZ. » San Diego right-hander Mike Clevinger
is inspired by poet Kahlil Gibran in a return from a second Tommy John surgery.
Clevinger said Gibran’s “The Prophet” is his favorite book, and in a recent Twitter post he quoted Gibran: “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls. The most massive characters are seared with scars.”
Twice-scarred Clevinger, one of the most effective pitchers in the majors when healthy, is on track to regain his spot in the Padres’ starting rotation after missing 2021.
The 31-year-old enters with no limitations following surgery in September 2020, manager Bob Melvin said. With his return to a rotation that includes Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Blake Snell, the possibilities seem limitless.