Los Angeles Dodgers fans were quick to celebrate as soon as Albert Pujols proved he could still produce.
The Los Angeles Angels made a surprising decision to cut Albert Pujols loose last week, paving the way for their stars in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. It seemed like nobody wanted Pujols given his down year, but the Los Angeles Dodgers swooped in from out of nowhere to give the veteran a chance at contributing on the reigning World Series champs.
Pujols said he’d accept whatever role he was given in LA; all he really wanted was to contribute. In his debut hitting cleanup on Monday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he did exactly that.
His first at-bat was anticlimactic. Pujols made good contact, but it was an easy fly-out for the D-Backs. Meanwhile, in southern California, Ohtani was validating the Angels’ decision.
His second at-bat, however, was an RBI single to bring home Mookie Betts and give the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead. As expected, Dodgers fans on Twitter and in Dodger Stadium could not have been more excited — and rapturously confident — about Pujols’ role on this star-studded roster.
ALBERT PUJOLS IS BACK pic.twitter.com/c5Bbikbkms
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) May 18, 2021
Dodgers fans approved of Albert Pujols’ debut on his new team
The excitement over Pujols’ first two at-bats was very real, especially since he got good contact on that first pop-out.
Albert Pujols' first hit as a Dodger is an RBI single. He's made hard contact each of his first two times up. Dodgers lead 2-0.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) May 18, 2021
https://twitter.com/jeuneadela/status/1394490244326592515?s=20
ALBERT PUJOLS’ FIRST RBI SINGLE AS A DODGER TO DRIVE IN MOOKIE
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgerNationLAX) May 18, 2021
Worth the contract already pic.twitter.com/W9TqxDYMM7
It wasn’t long before Dodgers fans were already looking ahead to the postseason and what kind of role he might play if (or rather, when) LA gets there.
If Pujols stays on the roster, he’s gonna match the amount of playoff appearances he had in his 9 seasons with Anaheim.
— Vincent Samperio (@vincesince91) May 17, 2021
Love Albert Pujols' mindset already. Dude is a first ballot Hall of Famer and is willing to be a damn pinch hitter for potentially his final season.
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) May 17, 2021
He wants to win more than anything. Let's ride.
Some were simply stunned that they’d lived long enough to see a 41-year-old Pujols driving in Mookie Betts on the same team.
"Albert Pujols drives home Mookie Betts" is something I never thought I'd hear outside of an All-Star Game
— Randi (@randi9320) May 18, 2021
“ Albert Pujols brings home Mookie Betts for the Los Angeles Dodgers”.... imagine saying that 2 years ago
— ⭐️🦅 (@SeagerSZN_) May 18, 2021
It will be fascinating to see what kind of role Pujols plays for this team with title aspirations. It will likely be a limited role in what might be his final season, but you can be guaranteed that whenever he does … anything, really, LA fans are going to go crazy over it.