Former Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Albert Pujols led his team to a 2025 Dominican League championship on Monday, adding to his already Hall of Fame resume.
Leones del Escogido, led by Pujols, defeated the defending champion Tigres del Licey in seven games of the Dominican Baseball League (LIDOM) finals. Their win ended a nine-year drought, also capturing their 17th pennant in the team’s history.
The series required seven games and took a go-ahead home run from Tampa Bay Rays prospect Junior Caminero to tilt the scale. Pujols looked on as the 454-foot blast cleared the center field wall, and his team held on in the bottom of the frame to close it out.
Pujols was met with some challenges in the series, including an unsuccessful challenge of an illegal bat used by a Licey batter.
Playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels and the Dodgers, Pujols hit 703 career home runs, won three MVPs, two Gold Glove Awards, winning a batting title, a Rookie of the Year. He left Major League Baseball as a two-time World Series champion.
Pujols was an 11-time All-Star and the recipient of six Silver Slugger Awards. His 22-year career ended where he started, retiring as a member of the Cardinals following the 2022 season.
His final year with the Cardinals earned him the 2022 Major League Baseball Comeback of the Year Award after he batted .270/.345/.550 with 24 home runs, 68 RBI, 14 doubles and a 150 wRC+.
What’s next for Albert Pujols and Leones del Escogido
Winning the LIDOM finals, Pujols and Escogido have a ticket to play in the Caribbean Series.
Slated to start on Friday, Jan. 31, the 2025 Caribbean Series is the 67th edition of the tournament, featuring winter league winners from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and first-time entrant, Japan.
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