Albert Pujols discusses managerial aspirations ahead of World Baseball Classic

Albert Pujols got a taste of managing last winter and will get another this spring. The future Hall of Famer would like it to eventually be a full-time job.

Pujols will manage the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic in March. Last winter, he led Escogido to the championship in the Dominican winter league.

“Baseball is my passion,” Pujols said. “That is what I love. I love to teach and be around the guys.”

MLB teams have taken notice of Pujols’ managerial aspirations. He interviewed for three openings this offseason, talking with the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres.

Though Pujols did not get hired, he found the interview process to be a learning experience.

“I enjoyed it,” Pujols said. “(Teams) wanted to learn more about me, and they told me how prepared I was, which made me feel good. I learned how long the process takes. I interviewed for 19 hours, both on Zoom and in person. It was a long process, but I enjoyed it. I enjoyed sitting at the table with the owner, the GM, the team president, and just learning about their franchises and how they wanted to turn them around. It was a great experience.”

Pujols accomplished just about everything a player could during his career, which spanned 22 seasons from 2001-22, most notably hitting 703 home runs, which ranks fourth in MLB history. Only Hank Aaron had more RBI than Pujols’ 2,218 and Pujols’ 3,384 hits are 10th all-time.

Yet Pujols has long been intrigued by the managerial side of baseball, as he played under skippers like Hall of Famer Tony La Russa, Mike Scioscia, Dave Roberts and Oliver Marmol. The experience in winter ball only heightened Pujols' desire to manage after leading a team to the Caribbean Series and mentoring a rising talent in Tampa Bay Rays All-Star third baseman Junior Caminero.

“I think you always have to be planning ahead,” Pujols said. “I was always that player who was looking to the day I retire and thinking about what my next job would be. I wanted to stay around the game. I worked with many great managers throughout my career, and I learned a lot.

“I took a couple of years off from baseball. I did not want to be on the field, but I’m ready to go now and hoping I get a chance to be a manager.”

Pujols was always known for his competitiveness while playing. He has been able to channel that into golfing since he retired.

Next week, Pujols will take part in the celebrity portion of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, which kicks off the LPGA’s 2026 tour at the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando.

So, what does Pujols find more difficult, hitting a 95-mph fastball coming at him or a golf ball sitting on a tee?

“I think a lot of people would say hitting a baseball is a lot harder than hitting a golf ball,” Pujols said. “I would say the opposite. Hitting a golf ball, to me, just sitting there, is tough. You have too much time to think.”

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.