Los Angeles Dodgers’ Albert Pujols to play in Dominican Republic, not ready to retire from MLB

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Los Angeles Dodgers to start with baseman Albert Pujols is set to fulfill a promise of participating in in the Dominican Expert Baseball League this winter and explained he desires to keep on playing in the majors until eventually “I come to feel I cannot engage in any longer.”

Pujols, who was formally released Friday as the newest player on the Leones del Escogido, will see action for the first time in the Dominican Republic.

“I manufactured a promise,” Pujols reported. “I stated I was going to play below before I retire. But that does not necessarily mean that I am heading to retire yet. My time to retire hasn’t arrived however. Why do I have to retire because an individual tells me to? I am going to do it on my terms and when I truly feel I won’t be able to engage in any more.”

Pujols performed 109 online games in his 21st time in the majors, which ended when the Atlanta Braves beat the Dodgers in the Countrywide League Championship Sequence. He said he has a “recreation prepare” in intellect for the variety of video games that he will be participating in in the Dominican league.

“I have an settlement with the workforce board. I have a relatives, commitments,” Pujols mentioned. “I will enjoy the games that my overall body enables me, but I will be assisting the team in no matter what it demands.”

Pujols extra: “When Albert Pujols receives worn out of taking part in baseball, that’s it. I am not likely to go out there and embarrass myself. I’ve trained genuinely hard and labored on my entire body to be able to have a excellent career. … I know what I can do.”

¡Ya está aquí! ?? pic.twitter.com/EaFramcEhf

— Escogido Baseball (@EscogidoBBClub) October 29, 2021

The Santo Domingo native, who turns 42 in January, was drafted in 2002 by the Gigantes del Cibao in the LIDOM, but he under no circumstances performed wintertime baseball in the Dominican Republic, where by the time ends in January.

“Due to the fact I was a little one I generally wished to engage in at the Quisqueya Stadium. It is a aspiration appear correct,” Pujols explained.

Pujols was greeted by his teammates and executives at the Leones Stadium when he arrived for his presentation and 1st exercise with the team.

“Bringing Pujols to the regional ball is an group-huge exertion for the excellent of our baseball and exhibits everyone’s motivation in this centennial yr of the team,” Leones typical manager Jose Gomez Frias claimed in a assertion.

Pujols will use the No. 5, which is retired by the workforce in honor of Leones legend Junior Noboa, but Noboa will enable Pujols to don it. Noboa, who performed for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians, among other MLB teams, is at present the baseball commissioner for the Dominican Republic.

A 10-time All-Star, Pujols’ 679 occupation residence operates are fifth-most all-time and most between energetic gamers. He gained Environment Sequence championships with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006 and 2011.