Albert Pujols Hits Home Run No. 600

Albert Pujols has reached another milestone in his magnificent career.

Pujols became the ninth player in MLB history with 600 career home runs on Saturday night. The Angels designated hitter hit a grand slam off Twins righthander Ervin Santana to left in the fourth inning for No. 600.

Pujols, 37, hit his first 445 home runs with the Cardinals before hitting 155 with the Angels.

His milestone home run was the latest chapter in Pujols’ rise from a 13th-round draft pick out of a junior college in 1999 to one of the greatest players in baseball history.

BA founder Allan Simpson examined how Pujols lasted to the 402nd pick in 1999. Pujols immediately mashed and was BA’s No. 2 Cardinals prospect after just one season in the minors in 2000. By the next year he was the NL Rookie of the Year and on his way to a career that includes three MVP Awards, 10 All-Star selections, six Silver Sluggers and two Gold Gloves.

Pujols’ 600 home runs are second-most all-time by a first baseman, behind only Jim Thome’s 612 career home runs.

The 37-year-old Pujols is the fourth-youngest player to hit 600 homers behind Alex Rodriguez, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth. Pujols joins home run kings Barry Bonds and Aaron as the only players to hit 600 homers and 600 doubles.