Former 11x MLB All-Star Albert Pujols finished his pro career in 2022 with a Hall of Fame-worthy career, and now he has his sights set on management.
He’s been a guest instructor with the Angels, but this year he stepped up and won a Dominican Winter League championship after leading Escogido to a win over Licey.
That win led to even bigger news as Pujols announced he will manage Team DR at the World Baseball Classic next year.
“I feel really proud, not just to be able to represent my country as a player, when I did it,” said Pujols about his upcoming job at the WBC. “But now to be able to lead a great group of guys, I’m really excited. I’m really pumped up.”
The 45-year-old, 3x MVP continues to develop his resume in the hopes of becoming an MLB team manager.
In addition to coaching in the Winter League, he’s also a special assistant to commissioner Rob Manfred, works as an analyst for MLB Network and has a 10-year post-retirement personal service contract with the Angels that pays him $1 million annually.
But for Pujols, MLB manager is the title he craves.
“I think being in Winter League and doing it this year, it gave me the experience that I needed. I think it prepared me for the big job,” he said.
In his 22-year MLB career, he won 2 World Series titles, hit 703 home runs and won a batting title. With his type of resume, he should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible in 2028.
Hopefully he’ll have “Manager” on his resume when he gets the call from Cooperstown.
