Albert Pujols Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Jose Alberto Pujols
Born 01/16/1980 in Santo Domingo Centro, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School MCC-Maple Woods
Debut 04/02/2001
Drafted in the 13th round (402nd overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999 (signed for $60,000).

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3B Jose Pujols established himself as the best high school talent in the state last summer before transferring. Pujols finished high school at Christmas and enrolled in junior college for the spring season. He has excellent power and is so versatile afield that he can play almost any position, though his tools seem best suited for third base. Offensively, he generates above-average bat speed and extension.

Top Rankings

The Cardinals offered Pujols $10,000 to sign in 1999, so he went to the summer amateur Jayhawk League instead and hit .343-5-17, good enough to earn a bonus close to $60,000. Then he proved to be a bargain, with a monster pro debut in which he was the MVP of the Class A Midwest League and the Pacific Coast League playoffs. He followed up by hitting .323 in the Arizona Fall League. Pujols started hitting in instructional league just after he signed and hasn't stopped. He uses the whole field and has great strike-zone discipline. He goes the other way well and should add power as he moves up. He's still young, but he has the approach of a veteran. He has a strong arm at third base. Pujols wasn't a more notable amateur prospect because he was much heavier and didn't move well. He's in good shape now, but the Cardinals aren't sure about his defense. He's passable at third, but he already has played a few games in the outfield and could wind up there. Pujols must have been sad to see 2000 end. The Cardinals are trying to temper expectations after just one pro season, but he could be in the big leagues by 2002, especially with the void at third base created by the Fernando Tatis trade. He likely will start 2001 at Double-A New Haven.

Not many players make their pro debut by winning an MVP award in a full-season league. Pujols did just that after signing late as a 13th-round pick from tiny Maple Woods (Mo.) Community College in 1999, and he’s now the best prospect in the St. Louis system. Managers ranked Pujols as the best batting prospect, best defensive third baseman and the best infield arm in Baseball America’s annual Best Tools survey at midseason. He also topped the league with a .565 slugging percentage. The only tool he lacks is speed, but he moves well and has good actions at the hot corner. "He has power, he can hit and he’s a really good third baseman," West Michigan manager Bruce Fields said. "He has a chance to get to the big leagues quickly, probably as much as anyone in the league with the exception of (Austin) Kearns."

Not many players make their pro debut by winning an MVP award in a full-season league. Pujols did just that after signing late as a 13th-round pick from tiny Maple Woods (Mo.) Community College in 1999, and he’s now the best prospect in the St. Louis system. Managers ranked Pujols as the best batting prospect, best defensive third baseman and the best infield arm in Baseball America’s annual Best Tools survey at midseason. He also topped the league with a .565 slugging percentage. The only tool he lacks is speed, but he moves well and has good actions at the hot corner. "He has power, he can hit and he’s a really good third baseman," West Michigan manager Bruce Fields said. "He has a chance to get to the big leagues quickly, probably as much as anyone in the league with the exception of (Austin) Kearns."