Former Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is expanding his role within Major League Baseball after being named as a special assistant to the Commissioner.
Following his 22-year playing career, spending time with the St. Louis Cardinals, Angels, and Dodgers, Pujols has dedicated a good deal of time giving back to MLB with his time. Prior to the season, he spent time in Tempe with the Angels in spring camp to fulfill a service contract to the club.
His new role with MLB won’t impact his current title as special assistant to the Angels, per Chuck Schilken of the L.A. Times:
The Angels confirmed to The Times on Monday that Pujols remains with the team as a special assistant.
This week, Manfred announced that Pujols will consult with the league on a number of matters, including player relations with the Dominican Republic and also as an MLB Network on-air analyst.
“Beyond his long list of accomplishments on the field, Albert is a highly respected figure who represents the game extraordinarily well,” Manfred said. “He cares greatly about making a difference in our communities. We are excited for Albert to join other former players who are doing important work for our sport, and we will welcome his perspective across our efforts.”
The three-time Most Valuable Player was selected to 11 All-Star teams, eclipsing the historic milestone of 700 home runs, finishing his career with 703, the most all-time from a player born outside the United States. Pujols’ reach in MLB is felt from fan and player appreciation, he expressed his excitement for his next step in baseball.
“I couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter of my career. Commissioner Manfred and I share the same passion for growing the game in the Dominican Republic and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together,” Pujols said. “I’m also grateful for the opportunity to join the MLB Network family. I’ve been a huge fan since the very beginning and can’t wait to get started.”
Pujols joins Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr., CC Sabathia, Joe Torre and many others who serve in various roles for MLB. His entrance into an advisory role and his stature as a future Hall of Famer can do nothing but solidify his standing with the league.
Albert Pujols to contribute during MLB London Series
Pujols made his MLB Network debut on MLB Central on Tuesday, and will also appear on MLB Tonight on June 7, with upcoming contributions to MLB Network’s coverage of the MLB London Series on June 23.
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