Cardinals: Albert Pujols will participate in the Home Run Derby

St. Louis Cardinals and future Hall of Fame slugger Albert Pujols will participate in the Home Run Derby in Los Angeles.

Just days after being an honorary selection to the All-Star Game, St. Louis Cardinals slugger and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols will participate in the Home Run Derby, as Katie Woo of The Athletic reported.

Wow.

This is, without question, going to be must-watch TV. There had been talk that Pujols could participate in the HR Derby in recent days, but it felt like a longshot at best considering 1) that he’s 42 and 2) likely going to want to keep his body fresh for the second half of the season. Alas, Pujols has decided to go through with it, and joins a cast that includes New York Mets star Pete Alonso and Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr.

Yes, Pujols has struggled this season, but is there any better way for him to say goodbye to Major League Baseball? He’s back with the Cardinals and finishing his career in St. Louis where it started. He’s going to Los Angeles, where he spent over a decade, to participate in the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby.

Does it make up for the lack of a farewell tour that teams have given him this season? Not sure. But this is one heckuva way to honor Pujols, who figures to get a ceremony and round of applause in LA by all the biggest stars and fans in perhaps the biggest stage in baseball. It’ll be cool to watch his emotion on the field and watch him soak it in. It promises to be special.

Suddenly, All-Star weekend will be must-watch TV for Cardinals fans. In addition to Pujols, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and Ryan Helsley were selected to the All-Star teams. Now, Pujols will be a prominent part of arguably the best event of the entire weekend – the Home Run Derby.