When the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Albert Pujols to a contract for the remainder of the 2021 season after he was released by the L.A. Angels last May, he already had several connections to the organization.
One of them was third base coach Dino Ebel, who spent seven seasons with Pujols in Anaheim. The two had a good relationship as Ebel visited Pujols at his house to hit ground balls every offseason.
The routine continued even after Ebel joined the Dodgers for the 2019 season, which eventually expanded to include other MLB and Minor League players.
During a recent appearance on “Dodger Talk,” Ebel revealed to David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports that he was always willing to assist Pujols with offseason workouts because he enjoys spending time with him:
“Before I left the Angels and came over to the Dodgers, it was a routine in the offseason. When the season ended, he took about a month off and then he would call me and wanted me to come down to where he lived in Newport. I would drive down two or three days a week, I would throw to him, hit him ground balls. That was his routine in the offseason, so I continued to do that all the way through the end. In 2019, when I first joined the Dodgers, he did call me and say, ‘Hey, there’s a couple guys that are working out. Arenado, myself and some other guys that are going to be at a local college. Can you come hit some ground balls?’
“And I did, because of Albert. The guy is a great person, he’s got a great routine. There were even some young Dodger Minor League players that were involved. That was one of the reasons why I continued to do it. … That was kind of the routine in the offseason. When he would call, I would show up. Wherever he wanted me to meet him, I was there. If it was hitting ground balls and throwing batting practice for an hour, I would do it because I loved doing it. I love him because he’s a great person. Our relationship is strong and it continues to be strong.”
Ebel shared another story of the time Pujols surprised him with a Corvette as a token of appreciation for helping him through multiple years of offseason workouts:
“I came home one night after a home game, Shannon and the boys were outside. It was midnight and I pull up to the driveway, and I’m thinking something’s wrong. They’re never outside waiting for me. I get out of the car and my son Brady tells me the garage door is broken. So I’m like, ‘OK, let’s go to Plan B. What are we going to do?’ They were all in on this thing, so Trey hears a click and says, ‘Dad, I heard a click.’ And he pulls up a garage door and there’s a 2021 Stingray, Dodger Blue Corvette, fully loaded.
“Instantly I’m like, ‘What is this car doing in my garage?’ My wife looked at me and said it came from Albert Pujols. I’m like, ‘Albert Pujols! I was just with him the whole night and he never said a word to me.’ I get on the phone, FaceTime him, and he’s got the biggest smile in the world. I had tears in my eyes and I said, ‘Albert, what is this?’ And he’s like, ‘Dino, thank you.’ I’m like, ‘Thank you for what?’ He’s like, ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done. This is a gift from me to you. Enjoy it.’”
Pujols is widely considered to be one of the nicest players in MLB, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that he went all out to create an unforgettable memory for Ebel.
Injuries led to Pujols making more starts for the Dodgers than initially expected this past season. From the time of his signing through June, he was in the lineup for 18 of 30 games.
Pujols hit .254/.299/.460 with three doubles, 12 home runs and 38 RBI in 85 overall games for L.A (37 starts). That marked an improvement from his .198/.250/.372 batting line in 24 games with the Angels.
Beyond his production on the field, Pujols was a welcomed presence in the Dodgers clubhouse. He regularly was praised by manager Dave Roberts and several players for a willingness to mentor others.
Will Dodgers re-sign Pujols?
Having recently turned 42, Pujols has given every indication that he plans to return for a 22nd season this year. The Dodgers could look to bring him back in the same role he had this past season, but there is speculation he may prefer finishing his career with the St. Louis Cardinals.
If Pujols re-signs with the Dodgers or joins another National League team, he figures to benefit from the potential implementation of a universal designated hitter in a new collective bargaining agreement.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
