Featured Columnist IVMarch 4, 2024
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Albert Pujols will endlessly be a Main League Baseball legend due to his unimaginable enjoying profession, however he’s open to contributing to the sport in a distinct style.
“Yeah,” Pujols advised Sam Blum of The Athletic when requested if he can be excited by managing in the future. “I believe, why not? I believe if the chance is correct in the future, I believe I will be prepared for that.”
The long run Corridor of Famer retired after the 2022 season, however he has stayed near the sport with varied roles, together with a managerial job with the Los Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Republic and a particular assistant function with the MLB commissioner’s workplace.
He has additionally been at Spring Coaching with the Los Angeles Angels as a visitor teacher due to the 10-year, $10 million post-retirement private providers contract he signed with the crew.
Pujols can be acquainted with a number of the most profitable managers in latest MLB historical past having performed for Tony La Russa, Mike Scioscia and Joe Maddon.
“I used to be blessed to have a chance to have the most effective, Tony La Russa,” he stated. “Then I went from St. Louis to a different most likely future Corridor of Fame supervisor in Scioscia. Then you definitely acquired Joe and (Dave) Roberts. After which two years in the past with Oli Marmol, who has plenty of issues to supply to the sport.
“You be taught rather a lot. You decide their mind. I used to be all the time that sort of participant that requested questions.”
Being that sort of participant labored, as he completed his profession with a resume that included two World Sequence crowns, three league MVPs, a Rookie of the 12 months, a batting title, six Silver Slugger Awards, two Gold Gloves and 11 All-Star choices.
Pujols led the league in residence runs twice on his technique to 703 lengthy balls and is a close to lock to be a first-ballot Corridor of Famer when he’s eligible.
The concept of Pujols ultimately turning into a supervisor just isn’t a brand new one.
He told reporters in March 2023 after his retirement that he wish to have a training function in the future and noticed the post-retirement take care of the Angels as a chance to choose up some expertise.
Managing the Los Leones del Escogido throughout winter league may also give him in-game expertise and an thought of what it’s wish to be answerable for lineups and pitching choices on a constant foundation.
Maybe it’ll ultimately result in a managing job down the road, however he has no scarcity of alternatives across the sport he dominated for thus lengthy even in retirement.
