Albert Pujols passes Mark McGwire for 10th on all-time HR list

Albert Pujols has moved into 10th place on Major League Baseball’s all-time home run list with number 584.

Albert Pujols is beginning to put his name in rarefied air. With one out in the first inning, the Los Angeles Angels designated hitter took Marco Estrada of the Toronto Blue Jays deep.

Pujols’ home run, his 24th of the year, pushed him past Mark McGwire into 10th place on MLB’s all-time home run standings.

Pujols went back-to-back with teammate Mike Trout. Here is the video of both home run swings.

The 36-year-old 1B/DH has been having a resurgent second half to the 2016 season. Pujols now has nine home runs since the All-Star Game in only 35 games. He hit 15 home runs in 87 first-half games.

As he ages, Pujols has seen his batting average and run-production suffer, but the home run power is still there.

For much of his early career, the three-time MVP looked like a threat to challenge Barry Bonds and 762, but injuries since leaving the St. Louis Cardinals for L.A. have slowed Pujols’ climb up the leaderboards. Up next for Pujols, at No. 9, is Frank Robinson with 586 home runs. At some point early next season, Pujols should push past 600 and begin chasing Sammy Sosa, who has 609 career long balls.

Next: Ranking The Best Hitter All-Time From Every MLB Franchise

With five more years left on his contract after this season, Albert Pujols has an outside shot at becoming just the fourth player in MLB history to reach 700 home runs. That’s a little shy of where Pujols was headed through his age-31 season. A full-time move to DH should help keep Pujols fresh and climbing the home run ranks.