Albert Pujols, the reigning National League MVP and simply known as El Hombre in St. Louis, wants to hit for more power this season.
Yikes.
The most feared batter in Major League Baseball will be even more fearsome this season after undergoing offseason surgery to repair an injured right elbow.
Pujols is coming off his second National League MVP in St. Louis, a season that was slowed by numbness in his pinkie and ring fingers.
Despite the injury, Pujols hit .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBI in 2008.
In eight seasons with the Cardinals, Pujols has hit .334 with 319 home runs and 977 RBI.
In addition to the two MVP awards, he’s a seven-time All-Star who has won a batting title, a Gold Glove and four Silver Sluggers.
Now that the elbow is repaired, Pujols has made it clear he wants to produce better power numbers in 2009. That’s scary news for opposing pitchers.
Pujols will begin his quest for better numbers beginning on April 6, when the Cardinals open their 2009 season against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It’s a pretty scary thing for National League pitchers to have to hear that Pujols feels he wants to hit for more power in 2009. Maybe he heard all the talk about people drafting Hanley first in fantasy drafts and he wanted to cement himself as the most consistent player on the board. This may affect a few drafts between now and then, but unless he comes out and says he wants to steal 20 bases this year, I think I’ll still spot Hanley first.
Good post!
I don’t play fantasy baseball and I admit I’m biased, but I’ll take Pujols over Hanley Ramirez all day every day. I’d love to see Hanley hitting behind Albert though – wow.