NL Central

St. Louis Cardinals icon Albert Pujols said he's not concerned about trying to recover his 700th home run ball from the fan who caught it in the left field bleachers at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.

"Souvenirs are for the fans," Pujols told reporters. "If they wanna keep it, they can. At the end of the day, I don't focus on material stuff. I think I have the bat, the uniform, helmet, things that are special to me. At the end of the day, I think that's why the fans come here—to have a special moment of history. So if they wanna keep that baseball, I don't have any problem with that."

The future Hall of Famer hit two homers in the Cards' 11-0 win over the Dodgers, one in the third inning (No. 699) and then the milestone longball in the fourth.

Mr. 700, #AlbertPujols! pic.twitter.com/ccQ4DQcXV0

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 24, 2022

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the fan who caught No. 700 had the ball authenticated before leaving the stadium. He was presented with offers by the Cardinals but decided to keep it, at least for now, per Fox Sports' Ben Verlander.

In 2005, Barry Bonds' 700th homer was sold at auction for $85,000, which is equivalent of just under $129,000 today when factoring for inflation.

Brandon Steiner, the founder of Steiner Sports Memorabilia, told Fox Business' Ryan Morik on Thursday he'd expect a sale price around the low six figures if Pujols' ball hits the block.

"I think it's a solid ball. Somebody in St. Louis could be more excited about that than necessarily nationwide ... I think it's a $100,000 ball, probably my guess," Steiner said.

Pujols became just the fourth player in MLB history to reach the 700-homer mark, joining Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).

Meanwhile, a similar story will play out if New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge eventually reaches 62 home runs this season to set the new American league record. He currently has 60.

SCP Auctions' David Kohler told TMZ Sports on Wednesday the record-setting ball could go for over $500,000 and Judge's last homer of the season, if he goes beyond 62, could reach or exceed $1 million in auction value.

It's created some concern about fan safety, after a battle for Judge's 60th homer was caught on video, but there were no issues following Pujols' 700th in L.A. on Friday night.

St. Louis Cardinals legend Albert Pujols called hitting his 700th home run "pretty special" but said he won't focus too much on his individual accomplishments until retirement.

Pujols, who became the fourth player in MLB history to reach the 700-homer plateau Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, discussed his career-long mindset after the Cards' 11-0 win.

"Look, don't get me wrong, I know what my place is in this game. But since Day 1, when I made my debut, it was never about numbers, it was never about chasing numbers," Pujols told reporters. "It was always about winning championships and trying to get better in this game. And I had so many people that taught me the right way early in my career, and that's how I've carried myself for 22 years that I've been in the big leagues. That's why I really don't focus on the numbers. I will one day, but not right now."

The 42-year-old Dominican Republic native earned his nickname, "The Machine," in part because of his effortless and often emotionless dominance over the past two decades. So it was unique to see him show immense joy as he trotted around the bases after No. 700.

Mr. 700, #AlbertPujols! pic.twitter.com/ccQ4DQcXV0

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 24, 2022

Pujols, who's set to retire at season's end, is still keeping his eyes on adding a few more accolades to a résumé that has already made him a first-ballot lock for the Hall of Fame before he hangs up his cleats for good, though.

He's already an 11-time All-Star, three-time National League MVP, two-time World Series champion and two-time Gold Glove Award winner. He also captured the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2001.

The slugger will have a chance to add another World Series title as the Cardinals will soon clinch a berth in the 2022 MLB playoffs, likely as the NL Central champions.

Pujols' return to near-peak form since the All-Star break is a major reason St. Louis has emerged as a legitimate championship contender. It's no surprise he had a little pop left in his bat, but he's exceeded expectations down the stretch.

His 1.076 OPS in the second half ranks second among all MLB hitters with at least 100 plate appearances, behind only the New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, per FanGraphs.

It's been a glimpse into his past when he was one of the toughest outs in baseball for nearly 15 years, and the Cards will hope he can ride that hot streak right through the postseason.

Regardless of how his final season turns out, Pujols will have a lot to enjoy whenever he finally sits back to digest the incredible numbers he's posted throughout his career.

An April prediction from MLB Network host Greg Amsinger about Albert Pujols went viral Friday night after the St. Louis Cardinals legend hit his 700th career home run.

Not only did Amsinger correctly forecast Pujols would reach No. 700, which seemed unlikely at the start of the season because of a lack of projected playing time, but he also guessed when and where the milestone blast would take place:

"He's going to hit his 700th career home run on the road. Friday night in Los Angeles in September..." - Greg Amsinger on April 13th, 2022

Is this the greatest sports prediction of all time?@Cardinals | @PujolsFive | #STLCards | #Pujols700 pic.twitter.com/HyQlMf9oCw

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) September 24, 2022

The one thing Amsinger didn't get right was the opposing pitcher, as Phil Bickford was on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers as Pujols made history, not Clayton Kershaw.

Mr. 700, #AlbertPujols! pic.twitter.com/ccQ4DQcXV0

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 24, 2022

It took a special night for the prediction to come to fruition, too. The Cardinals slugger entered the night with 698 homers and hit two Friday night in L.A., one in the third inning and another in the fourth as St. Louis cruised to an 11-0 win.

Amsinger also happens to be a St. Louis native, adding a unique layer to one of the best sports predictions you'll ever hear.

Meanwhile, Pujols became just the fourth player in MLB history to reach 700 home runs, joining Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).

"It's pretty special," Pujols told reporters. "When it's really gonna hit me is when I'm done, at the end of the season, when I'm retired, and probably a moment or two after that I can look at the numbers."

With the future Hall of Famer's quest complete, it leaves one home run chase left for the season's final stages: the New York Yankees Aaron Judge, who has tallied 60 longballs this season, trying to reach 62 to set the new American League record.

Judge and the Yankees are back in action Saturday afternoon against the rival Boston Red Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium.

No word on whether Amsinger has any prophetic Judge predictions in the can.

St. Louis Cardinals legend Albert Pujols became just the fourth player in MLB history to hit 700 career home runs after smacking a pair of long balls against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

Pujols' first blast was a two-run shot off starting pitcher Andrew Heaney in the third inning to give the Redbirds a 2-0 lead.

No doubt about number 699 for #AlbertPujols! pic.twitter.com/2Ns3ueuzcn

— MLB (@MLB) September 24, 2022

One inning later, the 22-year MLB veteran deposited a Phil Bickford pitch over the wall for a three-run bomb that put the Cardinals up 5-0.

The moment Albert Pujols joined the 700 Home Run Club!

(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/RLUAg9pgNA

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 24, 2022

Pujols has now joined the exclusive 700-homer club, which consists of Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).

The 42-year-old Pujols, who is retiring after this season, has enjoyed a phenomenal closing act to a Hall of Fame career.

The three-time National League MVP and 11-time All-Star entered Friday with 19 home runs, 53 RBI and an .845 OPS in 100 games.

He has notably mashed left-handed pitching all year to the tune of 12 homers, 28 RBI, a .352 batting average and 1.144 OPS before Friday's road game in L.A.

Pujols insists that this is his last year in the bigs, even though he's enjoying a fantastic season and would realistically have a chance at passing Ruth on the home run list in 2023.

"I'm still going to retire, no matter whether I end up hitting 693, 696, 700, whatever," Pujols told Bob Nightengale of USA Today last month.

"I don't get caught up in numbers. If you were going to tell me 22 years ago that I would be this close, I would have told you that you're freakin' crazy. My career has been amazing."

Pujols did end up hitting the 700-homer mark, and he has 10 more regular-season games after Friday to pad his career total. The Cards have two more matchups with the Dodgers before a pair against the Milwaukee Brewers and six more games versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pujols dominated over the first 10 years of his career, all of which came with the Cardinals. He sported a 162-game average of 41 home runs and 123 RBI and batted .331 alongside a 1.050 OPS from 2001-2010.

Pujols spent the 2011 season with St. Louis but left in free agency for the Los Angeles Angels in 2012.

He didn't enjoy the same success out west, but the first baseman stayed productive through the back half of his career (including a 2015 All-Star appearance) and found his way back home to St. Louis for one of the greatest closing acts in baseball history.

But the book on Pujols' career isn't closed just yet.

The two-time World Series champion should also have one final postseason act as well, as St. Louis currently holds a seven-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Central crown. The Cardinals appear destined for the National League's No. 3 seed, and Pujols' power certainly gives St. Louis a shot at winning its 12th World Series.

Albert Pujols' odds of reaching 700 career home runs keep getting better.

The St. Louis Cardinals slugger hit his 698th homer in the sixth inning of Friday's game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Albert Pujols comes in CLUTCH with No. 6️⃣9️⃣8️⃣!!!

TV: Bally Sports Midwest
Stream: https://t.co/VcFMyD4kpR#STLCards pic.twitter.com/Lv3mP8hx2I

— FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (@FanDuelSN_MW) September 17, 2022

Pujols is only two homers away from joining Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714) as the only players in MLB history with at least 700. He moved into sole possession of fourth place on MLB's all-time home run list with 697 on Sunday with a go-ahead two-run blast in the ninth inning versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bonds was the most recent player to join the 700-homer club. He reached the milestone on Sept. 16, 2004, in a 4-1 win over the San Diego Padres.

Friday marks the Cardinals' 145th game of the regular season. They will play 17 more games before the season comes to an end Oct. 5.

The game-tying two-run shot against the Reds was Pujols' 19th in 2022. It's his most in a single season since 2019 when he hit 23 for the Los Angeles Angels.

Pujols' longest home run drought this season lasted 25 games from May 23 to July 9. Friday was his 13th homer in 41 games since the All-Star break.

Albert Pujols is officially in sole possession of fourth place on Major League Baseball's all-time home run list, surpassing former New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez with 697 blasts in his historic career.

The St. Louis Cardinals veteran hit his 697th home run in the top of the ninth inning of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It gave St. Louis a 3-2 lead.

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! Albert Pujols puts the Cardinals on top in the ninth with No. 697!!!!!!

TV: Bally Sports Midwest
Stream: https://t.co/IJsMg5oWQe#STLCards pic.twitter.com/DrvPAJ25dE

— FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (@FanDuelSN_MW) September 11, 2022

697! @PujolsFive just passed Alex Rodriguez for 4th on the all-time HR list. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/2T7YCN50Sm

— MLB (@MLB) September 11, 2022

At 42 years old, Pujols is in the midst of an impressive season. He entered Sunday's game hitting .266/.339/.520 with 17 home runs and 46 RBI through 89 games.

It marks quite the turnaround for the Dominican, who had a rough 2021 campaign split between the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers.

After hitting .198/250/.372 with five home runs and 12 RBI in 24 games, Pujols was designated for assignment by the Angels in May 2021. The Dodgers signed him to a one-year deal once he cleared waivers.

In 85 games with the Blue Crew, Pujols hit .254/.299/.460 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI.

In March 2022, Pujols agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Cardinals. At the time, he announced that the 2022 campaign would be his final season in baseball.

Pujols began his career with the Cardinals in 2001, earning nine All-Star selections, three MVP awards, six Silver Sluggers, two Gold Gloves, one batting title and two World Series titles.

The future Hall of Famer slashed .328/.421/.617 with 445 home runs and 1,329 RBI in 1,705 games in his first stint with the franchise.

Before the 2012 season, Pujols signed a 10-year, $254 million contract with the Angels. He spent nine and a half seasons in Anaheim from 2012-21, slashing .256/.311/.447 with 222 home runs and 783 RBI in 1,181 games.

Finishing his career with the Cardinals, and hitting his 697th home run as a member of the franchise, is a full-circle moment for Pujols. If he can join the 700 home run club before he hangs up the cleats, he'll be just one of four players to do so, joining Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth.

Albert Pujols has added another milestone to his historic career after tying Alex Rodriguez on Major League Baseball's all-time home run list.

The St. Louis Cardinals slugger hit his 696th homer in the top of the sixth inning of Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Home run No. 696 for Albert Pujols pic.twitter.com/NbVhGyJ1cX

— Casey Drottar (@CDrottar19) September 11, 2022

HISTORY for @PujolsFive!

He is now tied with Alex Rodriguez for 4th on the all-time HR list with 696. pic.twitter.com/gtKNlJEv6Z

— MLB (@MLB) September 11, 2022

After spending the past several seasons looking like a shell of his former self, Pujols has been rejuvenated since signing a one-year deal to return to St. Louis in March.

It looked like any chance of the 42-year-old being a positive contributor in the big leagues was over entering 2022. He was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels in May 2021 after hitting .242/.291/.406 in 436 games with them from 2017-20.

The Los Angeles Dodgers gave Pujols a one-year deal after he cleared waivers. He showed good power with 12 homers and a .460 slugging percentage, primarily as a pinch hitter in 85 games.

Upon signing with the Cardinals as a free agent, Pujols also announced the 2022 season would be his last.

“This is it for me. This is my last run.” — Albert Pujols says about 2022 with #stlcards pic.twitter.com/heoHgqoFUD

— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) March 28, 2022

In all likelihood, the 11-time All-Star will finish his career as the fourth-most prolific home run hitter in MLB history. Babe Ruth sits at No. 3 with 714 homers.

Expectations for Pujols in St. Louis were understandably muted. His return to the franchise where he became a superstar made for a nice story, but there was no indication it would be more than a chance for Cardinals fans to give him a final sendoff before retirement.

Instead of merely taking a final lap around the big leagues, he discovered the fountain of youth. He isn't back to his peak form when he finished in the top 10 of NL MVP voting in each of his first 11 seasons, but few expected this from a 42-year-old designated hitter.

Pujols entered Saturday's game hitting .258/.333/.500 with 16 homers and 43 RBI over 244 at-bats. He is on pace to post his highest batting average since 2012 (.285), highest on-base percentage and slugging percentage since 2011 (.366/.541).

The secret to his success in 2022 has been torching left-handed pitching. He ranks second in MLB in OPS (1.180) against southpaws, trailing Cardinals teammate Paul Goldschmidt (1.379).

Entering Saturday's game, Pujols has also been one of the best hitters in MLB since the All-Star break. The three-time NL MVP has a .326/.387/.695 slash line and 10 homers in 95 at-bats.

His surge has coincided with the Cardinals taking control of the NL Central. They have gone 31-14 since the All-Star break to open up an 8.0-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers.

It seems likely Pujols will have one final opportunity to win a third World Series title with the Cardinals. He previously helped the franchise win championships in 2006 and 2011.

The 2022 MLB free agent class has the potential to be filled with superstar players, but St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado is not expected to be one of them.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the 31-year-old is not expected to opt out of his contract with St. Louis.

"Even with NL MVP candidate Nolan Arenado planning not to opt out of his Cardinals deal—'he will stay a Cardinal,' a friend says—no less than six opt-outs and player options for stars will bolster a solid free-agent list and make it special," Heyman wrote.

Arenado signed an eight-year, $260 million contract with the Colorado Rockies in 2019 before being traded to the Cardinals two years later. Per Spotrac, he is set to make a base salary of $35 million in 2023, but if he doesn't opt out after this season, Colorado will have to pay $20 million of his salary to St. Louis in $4 million increments from 2023 to 2027.

The seven-time All-Star also had the opportunity to opt out of his deal at the end of the 2021 season, but he sounded like he was content in St. Louis when he told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he was "absolutely coming back."

There hasn't been much to deter him from re-upping with the team again. St. Louis is in first place in the NL Central with a 76-55 record and Arenado is amid another strong season. The nine-time Gold Glove award winner is slashing .307/.370/.571 with 28 home runs and 89 RBI. He hit a two-run blast in Wednesday's victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

This year's free agent class will be headlined by New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner. But Heyman noted that several stars are expected to exercise the opt-out in their contracts, including New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom, Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander, San Francisco Giants hurler Carlos Rodon, Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa and Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright celebrated the "incredible" Albert Pujols after the future Hall of Famer delivered a pinch-hit grand slam in Thursday's 13-0 win over the Colorado Rockies.

"He looks the same as when he left to me," Wainwright told reporters. "This is what he's supposed to look like, here, this stadium, doing these things."

Pujols returned to the Cardinals, where he played from 2001 through 2011, in March to play the final season of his career following stints with the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers.

His 690 home runs rank fifth in MLB history, six behind fourth-placed Alex Rodriguez, and his 16 grand slams are tied for 10th all-time with Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Dave Kingman.

Pujols, 42, is no longer the dominant force he was during his first stint with the Cardinals, when he rightfully earned the nickname "The Machine" en route to earning a then-record 10-year, $254 million contract from the Angels.

He's quietly provided solid value for St. Louis this season, though. He's recorded an .814 OPS with 11 homers and 35 RBI across 68 appearances.

"I think at the end of the day, just being part of a great organization, a great group of guys that want to win, young players they're watching, I'm blessed to be here, and just help those guys out," Pujols said. "It's fun, trust me."

His contributions are one of the many reasons the Cards have overcome a sluggish start and surged to the top of the NL Central with a 66-51 record.

Wainwright, 40, is another, as he's continued to pitch at a high level deep into his own career. He delivered seven scoreless innings in Thursday's triumph over the Rockies to lower his season ERA to 3.11, which ranks 21st in MLB.

That play from two franchise legends combined with MVP-level contributions from the likes of Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado have the Cards trending toward World Series-contender status.

It's unclear whether Pujols will get enough at-bats down the stretch to pass A-Rod on the HR list, but his legacy is already secure, and he can only add to it from this point forward.

St. Louis is back in action Friday night as it opens a three-game road series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

The Pittsburgh Pirates aren't taking Dennis Eckersley's criticisms lightly.

Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds told reporters he "couldn't give any less of a crap" about Eckersley's comments after the Hall of Famer closer called the Pittsburgh lineup "a hodgepodge of nothingness" during a broadcast Tuesday night.

“You talk about a no-name lineup. There’s no team like this,” said Eckersley, who serves as a commentator for Boston Red Sox games. “I'd love to see some of the service time. Add it all up, it's not much. ... This is a hodgepodge of nothingness. It’s ridiculous. It really is. Pathetic."

Eckersley's comments seemed more of a dig at the Pirates organization than the players themselves. The Pirates rank 28th in payroll and have only three players on their roster (Reynolds, Ke'Bryan Hayes and Roberto Perez) who are making more than $2 million this season. Reynolds in only one of those three players currently on the roster, with Hayes and Perez both on the injured list.

Criticism of Pirates management's complete lack of desire to field a winning product is anything but new. The city of Pittsburgh has been in a near-revolt over owner Robert Nutting's penny-pinching for years, giving him the nickname "Bottom-Line Bob." The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Editorial Board wrote an article calling on Nutting to sell the team.

That's almost unheard of in sports.

So while Pirates players are more than used to criticism of the organization, Eckersley's tone was unfortunate. Rather than rightfully calling out the Pirates organization, it seemed like he was taking aim at players who are simply doing their best in a bad situation. Eckersley is also not a regular member of the media; he's a decorated former closer who has been in a clubhouse and should have known how players in the dugout would take his comments.

"We're in a fraternity, right? The MLBPA. We're a group of a certain, select amount of people. We're told to back up everyone from Day 1. We're a team. We're a collective unit. He's in the Hall of Fame," Pirates pitcher Wil Crowe told reporters.

"He's one of us. It's just surprising that a guy of his stature — where he's from, what he knows goes on in the game — to be one of even fewer than just in the PA, kind of come after us, was kind of crazy. think it was kind of crappy and bush league."

Eckersley will be back in the broadcast Wednesday night for another Pirates-Red Sox matchup, so we'll have to see if he responds to the pushback.