WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Minutes after Albert Pujols hit the primary blow for his second act with the St. Louis Cardinals, he acquired a textual content message that his spouse’s mind surgical procedure was a hit.
As Pujols ready to start his spring coaching, his spouse Deidre posted on social media late Tuesday that she was making ready to bear surgical procedure to take away a mind tumor found in October.
Pujols signed with St. Louis and arrived at camp on Monday realizing his spouse was making ready for what medical doctors informed them was a comparatively routine surgical procedure.
“However anytime you open up your scalp and head, you at all times have to fret about it,” he stated Wednesday. “You belief the physician that they’ve that knowledge and that expertise. As a lot as we swing the cage, they do the surgical procedure.”
Noting that Deidre’s mom and household have been there to assist her, Pujols doesn’t plan to go away camp early and return to California to be together with his spouse. He would possibly head to see her throughout the remaining days between the top of camp and the start of the season.
The Cardinals and Pujols have agreed to a $2.5 million one-year contract, giving him an opportunity to finish his profession the place he began. After a decade in Los Angeles, he returned to St. Louis with 679 residence careers.
Pujols stated he was at all times capable of separate baseball from life.
“I give it some thought, however when it is time to shut down, I deal with what I have to do,” Pujols stated. “Sure, my ideas and prayers are with my dad and mom and household.”
The Pujols performed the primary 11 years of his profession in St. Louis, successful world championship titles in 2006 and 2011. The 2001 Nationwide Rookie of the Yr had a run of a minimum of 0.300 with a minimum of 30 starters and 100 RBI in every of his first 10 seasons with the Cardinals. .
He signed a 10-year, $240 million deal in 2012 with the Angels, which he waived this previous Might whereas hitting 198. He signed with the Dodgers, who hit 12 wreckers and led 38 runs in 85 video games.
Pujols’ first at-bat since his return to St. Louis got here with the bases loaded and no distinction on the prime of the primary in opposition to Washington pitcher Anibal Sanchez.
“No stress, proper?” Pujols stated.
With the stage set for the return of the storybook, Pujols did what he did greater than another participant in baseball historical past: He established a double recreation. Apart from being one of the vital feared hitters in historical past, the Pujols has achieved 413 twin kills.
A mistake in third place adopted the inning later.
Pujols lastly broke the ice within the fourth, slapping a linear motor to the best via a gap created by a bollard moved to drag it off.
“It feels good to be again in an actual recreation,” Pujols stated. “I really feel very aggressive in opposition to the large league affords.”
Pujols does not count on to be within the Cardinals’ squad on Thursday, but when all goes effectively, he’ll play on Friday in opposition to the New York Mets.
Head coach Oliver Marmol stated that sooner or later earlier than St. Louis breaks camp, Pujols will play first base within the recreation.
Pujols thinks he’ll be capable to alter his swing in a hitting cage—one thing he’ll do throughout regular spring coaching anyway.
“He want to have some rackets earlier than we break right here, however taking part in each day might be not within the combine or required of him and he feels prepared,” Marmol stated.
