Dodgers: Watch Albert Pujols Pitch for First Time In His 22-Year MLB Career
ESPN TV executives probably weren’t overly enthused about the Cardinals turning their Sunday Night Baseball matchup against the Giants into a laugher. St. Louis boat raced the visiting Giants in primetime. The game appeared to have lost all intrigue, but then, future Hall-of-Famer and one time Dodger, Albert Pujols took the mound with a 15-2 lead.
Yes, you read that correctly. Tío Albert pitched the ninth inning for the Cardinals.
Albert Pujols on the mound vs. the Giants. We still love our Tío.
Once a Dodger…
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) May 16, 2022
In his MLB pitching debut at 42-year-young, Pujols yielded four earned runs on three hits to “seal” a 15-6 win for St. Louis. Safe to say, a late career conversion to relief pitcher isn’t in the cards for the three-time NL MVP. According to Sarah Langs of ESPN, Tío Albert is the oldest pitcher to make his pitching debut since 1929.
The historic moment was not lost on Giants veteran Evan Longoria. After singling off of Pujols, Longoria asked to keep the ball. Now that, is a unique piece of sports memorabilia.
.@Evan3Longoria got a hit off @PujolsFive and asked to keep the ball ? pic.twitter.com/c9xLqGn8Vf
— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2022
At his day job (DH), Pujols owns a .705 OPS, but as he did on the Dodgers, has continued to mash left-handed pitching. In 19 plate appearances against south paws, the veteran owns a 1.297 OPS. Proving that his final season is much more than just a retirement tour.
Pujols will make his return trip to Dodger Stadium when the Cardinals and Dodgers face off for a three-game series in late September (23rd-25th).
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Regarding Albert’s .705 OPS: I believe you short changed Tio. I believe his OPS is .788