Albert Pujols Needs 8 Home Runs to Reach 500 for Career

As the Los Angeles Angels' Opening Day matchup against the Seattle Mariners approaches, Albert Pujols is just eight home runs away from reaching the 500-homer mark for his career.

Only 25 players in Major League Baseball history have hit 500 or more home runs, with Gary Sheffield the last one to reach the milestone, in 2009. New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez—who's suspended for the 2014 season—is the only active member of the exclusive group.

Battling through plantar fasciitis last season—his second campaign with the Angels—Pujols hit 17 home runs in 99 games before being shut down in August. It snapped a remarkable streak of 12 straight 30-plus homer seasons to begin his career.

Now healthy, the 34-year-old Pujols will tie Fred McGriff and Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, both of whom sit at 493 career home runs, on the all-time list the next time he goes yard.

Another 30 homers from Pujols this season would push him past 10 players on the all-time list, though he may have to wait until 2015 to pass the likes of Jimmie Foxx (534) and Mickey Mantle (536).

While a hot start could put No. 500 within reach in late April, early-to-mid May seems like a more realistic estimate for Pujols to join the elite class of home-run hitters.