All-Angels Team: First Baseman

Sep 5, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols (5) catches a ball at first against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Angels shocked the baseball world when they pried superstar first baseman, Albert Pujols, away from the St. Louis Cardinals in the winter of 2011. After making 9 All-Star appearances and winning three MVP’s with St. Louis, the Halos lured Pujols away with a monster contract. Phat Albert’s first season in the Big A started slow, but quickly turned into another 30 home run 100 RBI season, his 12^th in a row. 2013 was a rocky one for the future first ballot Hall-of-Famer, as he battled injuries for much of the season and never really hit his stride. In 2014, Pujols appeared to embrace the immense pressure he has been under since joining the Halos, as he hit 28 dingers and helped lead the Halos into the postseason for the first time since joining the club.

Albert Pujols has been a steadying force in the heart of the Angels lineup since 2012, and figures to play a major role with the team for at least the next five seasons. In Pujols’ first three seasons in Anaheim he has hit .273 combined, with 75 home runs and 274 RBI’s. The Santo Domingo native has also posted an OBP of .332 and an impressive slugging percentage of .478. Pujols has won two Gold Gloves over the course of his career, and in 2014 he finished second in the voting. Pujols has tallied 10.6 wins above replacement in a Halos uniform.

There is little debate that Angels’ fans are incredibly lucky to watch a player of Albert Pujols’ caliber on a nightly basis.

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