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Cardinals Opening Day lineup: Albert Pujols makes triumphant return

By Aryanna Prasad

ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 30: First baseman Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals waves to the crowd during the World Series victory parade for the franchise's 11th championship on October 30, 2011 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Szczepanski/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 30: First baseman Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals waves to the crowd during the World Series victory parade for the franchise's 11th championship on October 30, 2011 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Szczepanski/Getty Images) /
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After an illustrious 22-year career, Albert Pujols embarks on his last season where it all began: with the St. Louis Cardinals. 

In 2001, a 21-year-old Albert Pujols made the St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day roster. Bobby Bonilla was injured at the time, but that’s not why Pujols made it to the big leagues that day: the Cardinals were just that impressed with him. Former Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire even told then-manager Tony La Russa that if Pujols didn’t make the major league roster, “it might be one of the worst moves you make in your career.” For La Russa and Pujols’ sake, the manager made the right move, and the rest has been history.

Pujols spent 2001 to 2011 with the Cardinals, helping the franchise to claim World Series titles in 2006 and 2001. Pujols then spent the next decade in Los Angeles, first with the Angels from 2012 to 2020, then a year with the Dodgers in 2021. Now, ‘La Maquina’ (‘The Machine’) is spending his final season back in St. Louis, and the oldest active MLB player doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. The 42-year-old is locked in to start as a designated hitter on Opening Day on April 7 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, which will mark Pujols’ 22nd consecutive Opening Day start .

Albert Pujols makes triumphant return to St. Louis Cardinals for Opening Day

Considering the Cardinals’ late-season postseason play last fall, Pujols could be the power the Cardinals need to have a more successful season this time around.

Suffice it to say that having a future Hall of Famer on the roster is a boost for any franchise, and even though it’s been a while since Pujols has been in St. Louis, his desire to return for his last season indicates that he’s planning on playing his heart out in 2022.

In his 2021 season with the Dodgers, Pujols had a .236 batting average with 65 hits, 17 home runs, 50 RBIs and 29 runs scored in 109 games. Over the course of his career, Pujols has a .328/.420/.617 slash line with 1,329 RBIs and 445 home runs, all through 1,705 games.

Pujols may look different than he did in his 2001 Opening Day start, but the fact that the Cardinals named him to their Opening Day roster means the team hopes to unleash him on their opponents.

Next. Albert Pujols is back with the Cardinals for the right reasons. dark

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