Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols cranks career home run No. 593 in the fifth inning off the Houston Astros’ Joe Musgrove.
Seventeen seasons. A career slash line of .309/.393/.571. Three MVP awards, a the 2001 Rookie of the Year, and 10 All-Star appearances. Albert Pujols will be a first ballet Hall of Fame inductee after he retires.
He may be 37 years old, but his bat still pops. Pujols averages 39 home runs per season for his career, including 31 and 40 in the last two seasons. So far in 2017, he has two home runs. The second of which was a monstrous blast on Tuesday night.
Seven away from 600. #MoonShot pic.twitter.com/d72sBcOhoS
— MLB (@MLB) April 19, 2017
It was career shot No. 593 for the veteran right-handed batter, and his 29th in Minute Made Park. Both are the most in MLB among active players. Additionally, Pujols now as 54 career home runs against the Houston Astros, trailing only the 56 long balls he blasted against the Chicago Cubs.
With seven more home runs, Pujols would become the ninth member of the 600-home run club and the first since Alex Rodriguez in August of 2010. If he stays on career averages, and remains healthy, Pujols has the chance to pass Sammy Sosa (609), Jim Thome (612) and Ken Griffey Jr. (630) this year. Still, the man once called “The Machine” is signed with the Los Angeles Angels through 2021.
Will Pujols make it to the end of his contract? No one really knows that answer. However, even if he averages 25 home runs per year, he could end with 725 for his career. It may be unlikely, but still plausible. That would make him third all time, passing Willie Mays, Rodriguez, and Babe Ruth.
Will we see this achievement again? Doubtful. The next closest active player is Miguel Cabrera with 448. The closest player under 34 years hold is Ryan Braun, but he has only 290 home runs in his career.
Next: Cardinals, Mariners and others already done
So, sit back and enjoy history. And class. Albert Pujols may be the last of his kind.