Former Angels All-Star and MLB legend Albert Pujols is interested in a career in managing.
Pujols, entering his second spring training as a retired player, was with the Angels this week as part of his personal services contract with the team.
While at camp, Pujols was asked about his interest in potentially becoming a future MLB manager.
“Yeah,” Pujols said. “I think, why not? I think if the opportunity is right one day, I think I’ll be ready for that.”
Pujols already got his first managerial gig, as he'll be the manager of Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Winter League this year.
This will be Pujols' first taste of managing, but he'll also spend plenty of time around the Angels and get more experience about what it's like to be around an MLB organization from a non-player's perspective.
For now, though, Pujols isn't thinking too far ahead. He's just worried about his current responsibilties.
“I'm gonna focus on what I need to do which is be here for a week and then go to the D.R. and getting the team ready,” Pujols said.
Pujols got some very high praise from the superstar of the Angels and his former teammate, Mike Trout.
“I was very fortunate to be able to come up in the clubhouse with Albert being the guy,” Trout said. “So just to be able to watch his work ethic and the way he was a leader in this clubhouse, when he left kind of felt like I had to step up a little bit, so it's been great.”
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