ST. LOUIS (AP) — Albert Pujols could be back in the St. Louis Cardinals’ lineup as soon as Tuesday night, beating the initial timetable for his return from a broken left wrist by a month.
After taking indoor batting practice and fielding grounders outside on Monday, Pujols said there was no pain and added that he felt great.
Tuesday is the first day Pujols is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list. He broke the wrist in a collision at first base with the Royals’ Wilson Betemit on June 19 and the team initially believed the three-time NL MVP would be out six weeks and could return the first of August.
The Cardinals lost five of their first six games without Pujols but had recovered lately and were 5-7 overall entering Monday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds.
