Albert Pujols became the 26th player in baseball history to hit 500 career home runs, and he was the first to ever do so by homering twice in the same game.
Pujols went deep off Washington Nationals starter Taylor Jordan twice Tuesday, once in the first for a 3-run shot and then a 2-run blast in the sixth to give him number 500. The second home run was a massive shot measured at 430 feet.
Pujols is off to a torrid start for the Angels and tied for the league lead with seven home runs.
Pujols also hit his 400th career home run at Nationals Park. According to MLB, he has now homered off 316 pitchers in 36 different ballparks and against 29 of the 30 teams (he hasn’t homered against the Cardinals).
Albert is the third-youngest player to reach 500 home runs behind A-Rod and Jimmie Foxx, though many have questions about Pujols’ age (he’s 34 years and 96 days old). He’s the second player to hit his 500th home run as a member of the Angels, joining Reggie Jackson.
