Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals
As the 2024 season winds down, the St. Louis Cardinals find themselves in a familiar position — looking to the future with a sense of nostalgia for their glorious past. Cardinals fans, known for their passionate connection to the franchise’s rich history, have begun to voice their desire to see some of their beloved legends back in the clubhouse. Many dream of Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina taking on coaching or managerial roles, hoping these icons can guide the team to their next World Series championship.
This sentiment is not without precedent. The Cardinals have a history of bringing back franchise greats in leadership positions, and some of those moves have led to success. The thought of Pujols and Molina returning to the organization in official capacities has Cardinals Nation buzzing with optimism.
Albert Pujols, who retired after the 2022 season, has been anything but idle. The future Hall of Famer immediately transitioned into high-profile roles, joining MLB Network as a studio analyst and taking on a special assistant position under MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. After 22 seasons of dominance in the sport, Pujols continues to make an impact off the field.
Now, Pujols is set to take the next step in his post-playing career. Reports indicate that he will be managing Leones Del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League during the upcoming offseason. While this may not be a Major League Baseball team, it’s a significant step for Pujols as he ventures into the world of coaching. With the growing popularity of the Dominican Winter League, Pujols’ presence will bring even more global attention to the league. Cardinals fans, however, are focused on what this could mean for the future. Could this be the beginning of a managerial career that eventually leads him back to St. Louis?
Albert gets an offseason managerial gig. #STLCards pic.twitter.com/HIVgFRpTW9
— FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (@FanDuelSN_MW) August 13, 2024
Yadier Molina, another franchise legend, is also expressing interest in a managerial role. The former catcher, who was the heart and soul of the Cardinals throughout the 2000s, is seen as one of the sharpest minds in baseball. Together, Pujols and Molina boast more baseball IQ than almost any duo to ever take the field. For Cardinals fans, the thought of having these two legends guiding the team is irresistible.
With the Cardinals’ struggles in 2024, the current coaching staff could find themselves on the hot seat by season’s end. Change might be inevitable, and the clamor for Pujols and Molina to join the coaching ranks could soon become a reality. The possibility of these two icons returning to the franchise in leadership roles is fueling hope and excitement among the fanbase.
There have been 19,605 individual player seasons with at least 400 PA since 1871, according to Fangraphs.
Nolan Gorman’s current 37.6% strikeout rate ranks 19,602 among them. #STLCards
— Brandon Kiley (@BKSportsTalk) August 21, 2024
While not all Cardinals fans are sold on the idea of bringing back former players in such prominent positions, the success of past similar moves keeps the possibility alive. For now, the dream remains just that — a dream. But with Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina showing clear interest in coaching, perhaps that dream is closer to becoming reality than anyone anticipated.
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