Skip to content

Cardinals' Pujols to make 22nd straight Opening Day start

Icon Sports Wire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols will start at designated hitter on Opening Day against the Pittsburgh Pirates, manager Oliver Marmol announced Monday, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

It will be Pujols' 22nd consecutive Opening Day start.

The 42-year-old has returned to the Cardinals for what will be his final season in the majors. "La Maquina" last played for St. Louis in 2011. He then signed a lucrative long-term contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

During his time with the Cardinals, Pujols won three National League MVPs, was a nine-time All-Star, and climbed to superstardom thanks to a .328/.420/.617 slash line with 445 home runs and 1,329 RBIs in 1,705 games.

The future Hall of Famer was also a big part of the Cardinals teams that won World Series titles in 2006 and 2011.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox