Angels’ Albert Pujols Confident He’ll Return to Old Form
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Jason Wise/MLB Photos via Getty Images(NEW YORK) — With the St. Louis Cardinals, Albert Pujols put up historic offensive numbers. But with the Los Angeles Angels, he hasn’t been as good as people are used to seeing. Still, Pujols has no doubt that he can regain his old form once he gets healthy.
“If I stay healthy, I’ll keep on hitting,” Pujols told ESPN 104.5 FM in the Dominican Republic. “God has blessed me with strength and hitting talent.”
On Monday, the Angels announced that Pujols would be shut down for the rest of the season with a foot injury, ending his second straight disappointing season with the team.
“As you get older, you start worrying about bat speed,” he said. “My speed has been the same since 2001 up until now. This year, my bat speed was around 88 mph.”
Prior to the 2012 offseason, Pujols signed a 10-year contract worth $240 million, but hasn’t lived up to the contract. In 11 seasons with the Cardinals, Pujols averaged a .328 batting average, 40 home runs, and 121 RBIs per season. But with the Angels he’s struggled, as he hit just .258 this season.
Pujols is an eight-time All Star, has won three MVP Awards, two Gold Gloves, and two World Series titles.
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