Why Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera are playing in 2022 MLB All
July 9, 2022
Getty Images
Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera are two of the greatest hitters of all-time. They each have milestones that place them in exclusive company. They are both World Series champions. TheyMLB Pants are both future Hall of Fame members.
In 2022, though, the 42-year-old Cardinals first baseman and 39-year-old Tigers first baseman are not exactly having their best seasons. Fangraphs lists Pujols at -0.6 fWAR and Cabrera at -0.1 fWAR, making them both below-average players.
Yet on Friday, MLB announced the two legendary batters are going to be headed to Los Angeles for the 2022 All-Star Game.
“I am delighted that Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera have agreed to participate in the All-Star Game," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced in a statement.
Albert and Miguel are two of the most accom atlanta braves official store plished players of their generation. They have also represented the baseball traditions of the DominicanManny Machado Republic and Venezuela with excellence for the last two decades. Albert and Miguel are two all-time greats whose achievements warrant this specia Matt Chapman Blue Jays Jerseysl recognition.
MORE: Miguel Cabrera joins short list with 3,000 hits
Here's why each batter will be able to add another All-Star appearance to their padded resumes.
Why Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera are in the All-Star Game
There were a lot of new polici atlanta braves world series t shirts es introduced in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players and owners. One of them allows for the selection of legacy players to the All-Star games by the commissioner, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
“In adJose Altuvedition to the 32 players elected and selected to the All-Star Game, the Commissioner may choose to add one player that he selects to each League’s roster, in recognition of each player’s career achievements,” the clause read, per Rosenthal. “If special circumstances warrant, the Commissioner may select more than one player to each league’s roster.”
M atlanta braves jersey women button up ORE: Next to 3,000 hits? It could be a wait
Pujols has announced this will be his final season in the majors, while Cabrera has said he will retire when his contract expires at the end of the 2023 season.
Both hitters have more than enough on their resume to justify selections for their career achievements. They are two of only seven players with at least 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, both milestones that have historically meant future Cooperstown enshrinement.
Pujols currently ranks fifth on the all-time home run list with 683, 13 shy of reaching Alex Rodriguez's 696. Cabrera ranks 27th with 505 home runs. Pujols ranks third on all-time RBI at 2,168, while Cabrera is tied with Rafael Palmeiro for 17th with 1,835. They also rank third and 17th in total bases, respectively, at 6,084 and 5,218.
Based on career fWAR, Fangraphs' Wins custom atlNolan Arenado anta braves jersey Above Replacement, Pujols is 28th at 86.5, while Cabrera is tied with Scott Rolen at 60th with 69.9 fWAR.
MORE: Albert Pujols' pitching debut puts him in rare atlanta braves jersey youth girls company
Pujols will be making his 11th All-Star appearance, 10th with St. Louis. He is a three-time NL MVP (2005, 2008, 2009), two-time World Series champion (2006, 2011), two-time Gold Glove winner (2006, 2010) and six-time Silver-Slugger (2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010). He has spent 12 seasons with the Cardinals, nine full seasons with the Angels and he spent 2021 split between the Angels and Dodgers. The 2022 All-Star Game will be held at Dodger Stadium.
This will be Cabrera's 12th All-Star appearance and eighth with the Tigers. He has twice won the AL MVP (2012, 2013), won a World Series with the Marlins in 2003, won seven Silver Sluggers (2005, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016) and won the AL Triple Crown in 2012 when he led the league in batting average, home runs and RBI. He has spent 15 years with the Tigers and five with the Marlins.