Albert Pujols provided Houston Astros fans with one of the most shocking moments in their franchise history during Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS while he was a member of the St. Now, 21 years later, the three-time NL MVP is set to interview for Houston's managerial vacancy, according to multiple reports. MLB.com Astros beat reporter Brian McTaggart also reported Wednesday afternoon that Houston will be interviewing former third baseman Morgan Ensberg for the gig "later this week." Ensberg made the only All-Star team of his career during the 2005 campaign with the Astros, which saw them eliminate Pujols' Cardinals in a six-game NLCS.
Pujols spent 12 of his 22 MLB seasons in St. Louis, which used to be a main rival of Houston when the Astros played in the NL Central. The 46-year-old won the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year honor, earned 11 All-Star nods, two Gold Glove awards and two World Series titles across his illustrious career, which ended after the 2022 campaign.
Pujols interviewed for both the Los Angeles Angels' and San Diego Padres' managerial openings last offseason and is currently in his fourth year of a 10-year, $10 million personal services contract with the Halos. The six-time Silver Slugger award winner and one-time NL batting champion played nine-plus seasons with the Angels from 2012 to 2021. Pujols is widely expected to be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer when first eligible for induction in 2028.
Pujols served as manager of Team Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, leading them to a third-place finish. He faces a crowded field of contenders for the job in Houston, including Ensberg, as well as Texas Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta and New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus, according to a report by Astros insider Chandler Rome of The Athletic.
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