Cardinals’ Albert Pujols to participate in 2022 Home Run Derby, fifth of his career
The 2022 Home Run Derby will take place on Monday, July 18
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fans of Major League Baseball will receive a special treat during the All-Star Week festivities.
Albert Pujols, fifth all-time in home runs, will participate in the 2022 Home Run Derby in the last season of his professional career.
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, #5, celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run to center field in the sixth inning of an MLB game against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 10, 2022 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The St. Louis Cardinal, who was added to the All-Star Game roster by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred as an honorary selection, made the announcement on Twitter.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I’m thoroughly blessed to be able to do it and I hope that I can put on a good show for the fans," Pujols said, according to MLB.com. "I’m just going to try to have fun like I always have in that event and try to put on a good show. I’ll represent a lot of players and fans, and hopefully, I can put on a good show for them and have fun. When they asked me about it, I was excited about it and feel honored to be able to do it."
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Pujols returned to St. Louis during the offseason for a one-year deal after spending the last 10 years of his career in Los Angeles. The three-time MVP has appeared in 50 games for the Cardinals this season, hitting .219 with six home runs and 20 RBI’s.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Albert Pujols, #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals, hits a single against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second inning at Busch Stadium on July 10, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images)
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On Monday, Pujols passed Cardinals great Stan Musial for third on the all-time extra-base hits list.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"He was probably looking down and smiling," Pujols said of Musial on Monday, according to MLB.com. "He was probably like, ‘Once again, you did it.’ I mean, I don’t even have words to describe my feelings because of the respect that I have for Stan and his whole family, and the legacy he left behind through this organization and through myself. That means a lot to me."
Albert Pujols, #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals, is honored before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on July 7, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images)
This was the 1,378th extra-base hit of his storied career and moves Pujols behind only Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds on the all-time extra-base hits list.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Home Run Derby will consist of eight competitors, including Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves, Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals, Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies, and Pujols confirming their participation.
The 2022 Home Run Derby will take place on Monday, July 18.