Sluggers Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals and Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers will participate in the 2022 All-Star Game, commissioner Rob Manfred announced Friday.
Pujols, Cabrera and Hall of Famer Hank Aaron are the only players in MLB history to register 3,000 hits, 500 home runs and 600 doubles.
“I am delighted that Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera have agreed to participate in the All-Star Game,” Manfred said in a statement. “Albert and Miguel are two of the most accomplished players of their generation. They have also represented the baseball traditions of the Dominican Republic and Venezuela with excellence for the last two decades. Albert and Miguel are two all-time greats whose achievements warrant this special recognition.”
The selection is the 11th for the 42-year-old Pujols, who is the oldest active player in MLB this season, and the first since 2015. Cabrera, 39, was picked for the 12th time and the first since 2016.
“Miguel is like a little brother to me,” Pujols said. “He’s somebody I respect. We talk a lot. It’ll be great to see him there.”
Pujols returned to the Cardinals in March, agreeing to a $2.5 million, one-year contract with the team he started with. An NL MVP in 2005, 2008 and 2009, he played for the Cardinals from 2001-11, then left for a $240 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He spent most of 2021 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“If there is one game for the fans to celebrate the history and longevity, it’s the All-Star Game,” said Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa, who was Pujols’ manager in St. Louis for seven years. “Anything like that [being selected to participate in the All-Star Game], I’m all in favor of.”
Pujols is a .296 career hitter and fifth with 683 home runs, trailing only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Alex Rodriguez (696). His 2,168 RBIs are third behind Aaron (2,297) and Ruth (2,214).
“When I got drafted and began my big league career, it was never in my mind or my thoughts to accomplishing so much in my career,” Pujols said. “There’s no regrets in my career.”
Pujols is hitting .200 with four homers and 18 RBIs in 125 at-bats this season. Pujols has played in 45 games before Friday. He has become a specialist against left-handed pitching as he has a .290 batting average this season versus southpaws.
He said in March he intends to retire after this season.
“This is really exciting for me,” Pujols said. “I’m going to enjoy it. I think this is awesome. It’s really special. This means a lot. It’s pretty cool to be going there. I’m just going to try and have a good time.”
Pujols would entertain competing in the Home Run Derby
“There are so many other players that deserve that honor. If they ask me, I don’t know, I’d give it a chance,” he said. “I don’t know how good I would do, but I’d do it.”
Cabrera won the AL MVP in 2012 and 2013, and in 2012 led the AL with a .330 batting average, 44 homers and 139 RBIs to become MLB’s first Triple Crown winner since Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. Cabrera got his 3,000th hit on April 23, the 33rd player to reach the mark.
“It’s a chance to talk to all the players,” Cabrera said. “You have a chance to ask questions, learn something. It’s fun because it’s the only time we can get together, sit together and talk about everything. It’s a good time to know people. It’s a good time to talk about baseball.”
The slugger called Pujols “one of the best hitters I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“To be part of this together is going to be great,” Cabrera said.
The All-Star Game will be held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 19.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and The Associated Press contributed to this report.