Angels expect Pujols ready for season after minor knee surgery

Los Angeles, CA, United States (4E Sports) – Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols is expected to be ready for Opening Day after undergoing minor surgery to “clean up” his right knee last week.

Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto confirmed that Pujols had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in St. Louis, but the team doesn’t anticipate any down time for the first baseman.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the slugger has already resumed conditioning.

The 32-year-old Pujols signed a 10-year, $250 million contract with the Angels last offseason after 11 years with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Pujols overcame a slow start this year to finish with a .285 batting average, 30 home runs and 105 RBIs in 154 games.

Pujols’ knee problem stemmed from an Aug. 22 game at Fenway Park, when he was diagnosed with a right calf injury, which caused him to miss four games and to play the following 16 outings as designated hitter.

After the calf healed, the knee problem occurred soon thereafter, making Pujols extra cautious on the basepaths.

This prompted manager Mike Scioscia to limit his starts at first base and put him as designated hitter in 24 of the last 33 games. The only game Pujols missed during that time was following the birth of his daughter.

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