Major League Baseball legend Albert Pujols will add more managerial experience to his resume in the Dominican Republic with the Estrellas Orientales next winter in LIDOM. The news was announced on the Estrellas Orientales Dec. 28 on X.
¡BIENVENIDO, LEYENDA! ?⭐
Las Estrellas Orientales reciben formalmente a Albert Pujols en su organización. El futuro inmortal de Cooperstown se une a nuestras filas para aportar toda su experiencia y trayectoria histórica al equipo.
Próximamente se anunciará el rol. pic.twitter.com/ULRWc3YZFS— EOBASEBALLCLUB (@EOBASEBALLCLUB) December 28, 2025
Pujols is also set to manage the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic this spring. Last season in LIDOM, he managed the Leones del Escogido to a Caribbean Series Championship against the Charros de Jalisco of the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico.
The Estrellas Orientales failed to meet expectations in 2025. They missed the LIDOM playoffs with a fifth-place finish and a 22-28 record. Pujols looks to help Estrellas bounce back next season after not managing in LIDOM this season as the Leones del Escogido hired another former MLB player, Ramon Santiago, to manage their squad in 2025.
Pujols retired in 2022 with the St. Louis Cardinals and is regarded as one of the best right-handed hitters in MLB history. He was a three-time MVP, made 11 All-Star Game appearances, and won six Silver Slugger Awards. His 2,218 RBIs rank only behind Hank Aaron and his 703 home runs rank fourth all time. Pujols and Aaron are the only players in MLB history with both 700+ home runs and 3,000+ hits.
Pujols made his MLB debut with the Cardinals in 2001. He left the Cardinals for the Los Angeles Angels in free agency in 2012, spending the next 10 years in Anaheim. He also played 81 games in the 2021 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers before returning to St. Louis for his final MLB season in 2022.
Pujols spoke with World Baseball Network about managing the Dominican Republic in the WBC, his experience managing with the Leones del Escogido, and his transition to a managerial role on Dec. 9 at the Winter Meetings in Orlando.
“It’s something that I prepare myself really well for. I did it last year and I had a great time in the Dominican Republic. Now I get a chance to manage one of the best teams out of the Dominican Republic. And my job is to try to put them in the best position to win, the World Baseball Classic,” Pujols told World Baseball Network.
“I think it’s two different responsibilities that you have as a player and now as a manager. I’m really excited (and) looking forward to the tournament,” Pujols said.
His path to winning the World Baseball Classic will not come without resistance from their opponents at loanDepot Park in Miami. Venezuela and the Netherlands will be among their toughest tests in Pool D, which also includes Israel and Nicaragua. Team USA, Japan, and Mexico could also be tougher tests if they make it out of pool play.
“The biggest challenge is winning. I mean, it’s not easy. You can have all the talent and have all the players that you have, but at the end of the day man, the players are gonna have to go out there and perform, and our job is to try to put them in the best position so they can win a championship,” Pujols said.
Pujols could also have a role in the front office of Estrellas Orientales, but it depends on how much commitment the Dominican Republic will allow him to do due to his commitments for the World Baseball Classic, according to ESPN Deportes reporter Enrique Rojas on Dec. 28.
Albert Pujols me confirmó su entrada a las Estrellas Orientales de la pelota dominicana.
Su rol dependerá de que tanto sea permitido por su compromiso de dirigir a ?? en el Clásico Mundial.— Enrique Rojas/ESPN (@Enrique_Rojas1) December 28, 2025
Pujols took managerial interviews with the Angels and San Diego Padres this offseason. He could one day become an MLB manager and these opportunities managing both for the Dominican Republic and the Estrellas Orientales will help boost his resume.
WBN Dominican Republic: https://worldbaseball.com/league/dominican-republic/
Photo: Albert Pujols, former baseball player and manager of a Dominican professional baseball team, makes remarks during a news conference at the MLB winter meetings, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
