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Albert Pujols only needs two more home runs to place himself in one of the most exclusive sports clubs: the 700 home run club.
The 42-year-old hit his 698th career homerun on Friday-evening. The blast also tied the St. Louis Cardinals’ game against the Cincinnati Reds at 4-4.
Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts after hitting a two-run homerun against the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth inning at Busch Stadium on September 16, 2022 in St. Louis.
(Joe Puetz/Getty Images)
The pressure of 700 doesn’t even come close to Pujols. In fact, it is blooming right now.
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At the start of the season, Pujols needed 21 home runs to deliver a feat no one has accomplished since Barry Bonds did on September 17, 2004. With Pujols’ underplayed play in recent years (.700 OPS since 2017 and averaging 18 home runs per season in that period with the Angels and Dodgers), it seemed somewhat unlikely.
But since mid-July, he has been one of the best hitters in baseball.
In his last 47 games, he is a .324 batter with 15 homeruns, 35 RBI and a 1.086 OPS. With that piece, he increased his average from .198 to .264 and his OPS from .624 to .865.
Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a two-run homerun against the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth inning at Busch Stadium September 16, 2022 in St. Louis.
(Joe Puetz/Getty Images)
These last few home runs are also clutch. Five of his last six home runs have drawn a game or given the Cardinals a lead. His 697th on Sunday, a two-run shot, gave the Cards a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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The Cardinals have 17 games ahead of him to hit two home runs. If he maintains his current pace since July 10 for the last home stretch, he will finish with 703 home runs in his career.
Where it once seemed like Pujols only had a chance from the outside to hit the target, now it would seem almost surprising if he didn’t.
In his last at bat of Friday’s game, Pujols came in only one meter from 699, but it was a swipe into the warning lane. It would have been a home run 10 other stadiums.
The Cardinals won the game 6-5 and Ryan Helsley earned the save with a flawless inning.
Pujols was not the only cardinal to pursue history this year. Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina just broke the all-time MLB record for most starts by battery. Wainwright threw the first pitch of a game to Yadi for the 325th time in their career on Wednesday.
The Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals tips his cap after hitting a grand slam in the third inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on August 18, 2022 in St. Louis.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Pujols will retire at the end of this year, along with Molina. Wainwright has yet to publicly announce his plans beyond this season.
When Pujols signed with the Cardinals in the off-season, it seemed like nothing more than a proper farewell tour, ending his career where it all began.
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