Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekIncluded Columnist IVMarch 4, 2024
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Albert Pujols will permanently be a Major League Baseball legend thanks to his extraordinary playing profession, however he is open to adding to the video game in a various style.
“Yeah,” Pujols informed Sam Blum of The Athletic when asked if he would have an interest in handling one day. “I believe, why not? I believe if the chance is ideal one day, I believe I’ll be all set for that.”
The future Hall of Famer retired after the 2022 season, however he has actually remained near the video game with different functions, consisting of a supervisory task with the Los Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Republic and an unique assistant function with the MLB commissioner’s workplace.
He has actually likewise been at Spring Training with the Los Angeles Angels as a visitor trainer thanks to the 10-year, $10 million post-retirement individual services agreement he signed with the group.
Pujols is likewise acquainted with a few of the most effective supervisors in current MLB history having actually bet Tony La Russa, Mike Scioscia and Joe Maddon.
“I was blessed to have a chance to have among the very best, Tony La Russa,” he stated. “Then I went from St. Louis to another most likely future Hall of Fame supervisor in Scioscia. You got Joe and (Dave) Roberts. And after that 2 years ago with Oli Marmol, who has a great deal of things to use to the video game.
“You discover a lot. You choose their brain. I was constantly that sort of gamer that asked concerns.”
Being that type of gamer worked, as he completed his profession with a resume that consisted of 2 World Series crowns, 3 league MVPs, a Rookie of the Year, a batting title, 6 Silver Slugger Awards, 2 Gold Gloves and 11 All-Star choices.
Pujols led the league in crowning achievement two times on his method to 703 long balls and is a near lock to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he is qualified.
The concept of Pujols ultimately ending up being a supervisor is not a brand-new one.
He informed press reporters in March 2023 after his retirement that he wish to have a training function one day and saw the post-retirement handle the Angels as a chance to get some experience.
Handling the Los Leones del Escogido throughout winter season league will likewise offer him in-game experience and a concept of what it resembles to be in charge of lineups and pitching choices on a constant basis.
Maybe it will ultimately cause a handling task down the line, however he has no scarcity of chances around the video game he controlled for so long even in retirement.