Although it is something that most Dodger fans do not want to hear, in all likelihood 41-year-old future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols has probably played his last game in a Dodger uniform.

That’s the bad news.

The good news is that he probably has not played his last game in Major League Baseball.

Scoffing at rumors that his 21-year MLB career was over and keeping his word on a promise he made many years ago, the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native and 13th-round draft pick in 1999 by the St. Louis Cardinals out of Metropolitan Community College in Maple Woods in Kansas City, returned to his hometown to play for the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Winter League.

“I made a promise. I said I was going to play here before I retire. But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to retire yet,” Pujols said through an interpreter on Friday. “My time to retire hasn’t arrived yet. Why do I have to retire because someone tells me to? I’m going to do it on my terms and when I feel I can’t play anymore.”

“I have an agreement with the team board. I have a family, commitments,” Pujols said. “I will play the games that my body allows me, but I will be helping the team in whatever it needs.

“When Albert Pujols gets tired of playing baseball, that’s it. I’m not going to go out there and embarrass myself. I’ve trained really hard and worked on my body to be able to have a good career. … I know what I can do,” he added.

Pujols said that he grew up a fan of the Leones del Escogido and always wanted to play for them.

“Since I was a child, I always wanted to play at the Quisqueya Stadium. It is a dream come true,” he said.

And make no mistake about it, the Leones del Escogido are thrilled to have the future MLB Hall of Famer in their midst.

“Bringing Pujols to the local ball is an organization-wide effort for the good of our baseball and shows everyone’s commitment in this centennial year of the team,” Leones general manager Jose Gomez Frias said in a statement.

As noted, Pujols’ return to the Dodgers in 2022 – and beyond – is a bit of a longshot. The 2021 season marked the completion of his 10-year /$240 million contract, which he signed with the Angels of Anaheim on December 8, 2011. The Angels released the 21-year MLB veteran on May 13, 2021, and by all appearances his MLB career was over, with Angels owner Arte Moreno still paying him $30 million for the 2021 season. Four days later, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman snatched Pujols up to play for the Dodgers – on Moreno’s dime.

Pujols became an immediate favorite among Dodger fans, who (very) affectionately dubbed him “Tio Albert.” Known for his all-embracing hugs of his teammates, Pujols slashed .254 / .299 / .460 / .759 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI it the 85 games in which he appeared in Dodger Blue.

All of this being said and being brutally honest, unless Tio Albert is willing to give Friedman a huge hometown discount to return to the Dodgers, his return seems unlikely.

Here is a recap of the transactions of Albert Pujols’ brilliant Hall of Fame career:

• June 2, 1999: Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 amateur draft. Player signed August 17, 1999.
• October 30, 2011: Granted Free Agency.
• December 8, 2011: Signed as a Free Agent with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
• May 13, 2021: Released by the Los Angeles Angels.
• May 17, 2021: Signed as a Free Agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Play Ball!

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