Tonight, Albert Pujols hit his 500th career home run. The Los Angeles Angels slugger did so off Washington Nationals starting pitcher Taylor Jordan in the fifth inning. It was Pujols’ second HR of the evening as he took Jordan deep in the first.
Pujols becomes the 26th man to reach the 500 HR plateau and the third youngest to do so. Only Alex Rodriguez and Jimmie Foxx reached 500 at a younger age.
Injuries limited Pujols to only 17 HR in 99 games in 2013. With more than a week remaining in April, Pujols already has an AL leading 8 HR in this young season.
The question is whether he can reach 763. Well, if Pujols hits 35 HR this year and then hits 35 HR for the seven remaining seasons on his contract then he can do it. But I can’t see him staying healthy. I think Barry Bonds is safe. Unlike Bonds, Pujols has I think written his ticket to Cooperstown.
UPDATE: Pujols’ 500th HR was caught by Tom Sherrill, an air force staff sergeant who promptly returned the ball to Pujols.
