Cardinals legend Albert Pujols will participate in the Home Run Derby at All-Star weekend for the fifth time in his career.
Albert Pujols is about to shatter the record for the oldest player to ever take part in the Home Run Derby.
The Cardinals star will take part in the derby at All-Star weekend, as first reported by Katie Woo of The Athletic and confirmed by FanSided’s Robert Murray. He was added to the NL All-Star roster by commissioner Rob Manfred as a legacy selection.
At 42 years old, Pujols will take over for 39-year-old Barry Bonds as the oldest HR Derby participant.
Albert Pujols gets fifth chance at Home Run Derby
Pujols took up his bat in the HR Derby in 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2015.
In his first appearance, he came second behind Garret Anderson of the Angels, though Pujols had the most home runs in the event total with 26.
In 2007, he tied for third hitting 13 total while Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels took the crown.
In 2009, he had 11 homers in a fifth-place finish. Prince Fielder won that one.
The 2015 derby saw him beat Kris Bryant in the quarterfinals before falling to Joc Pederson in the semifinals. He hit 21 total. Pederson went on to lose to Todd Frazier in the final.
He is eighth all-time with 71 derby homers. He should have a good chance to rise up that ranking with this appearance, though it’ll take something special to catch Pete Alonso’s record of 131.
Alonso, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Juan Soto are also slated to participate in the derby this year. All three have taken part before.