Pujols Looking to Become 4th Player with 14 30-Homer Seasons

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols enters Friday's game against the Texas Rangers with 29 home runs for the season, needing just one more to become the fourth player in major league history to record 14 or more seasons with 30 or more home runs, per Sportsnet Stats.

Already universally regarded as one of the best right-handed batters of all time, the 36-year-old slugger should soon find himself in rather fine company, joining Hank Aaron (15 30-plus-homer seasons), Alex Rodriguez (15) and Barry Bonds (14), per Baseball Almanac.

Pujols has had 13 such seasons, tying him with Babe Ruth and Mike Schmidt for fourth-most in major league history.

While still productive in the power department, the Angels' high-priced DH has otherwise seen his production tail off, even after accounting for his recent hot streak.

His .271 batting average would be solid for most players, but it pales in comparison to his .310 career mark, and the same can be said for his .328 on-base percentage (career .393) and .468 slugging percentage (career .574).

However, if he's merely being judged by his standards since leaving the St. Louis Cardinals after the 2011 season, this has arguably been Pujols' best campaign in an Angels uniform.

His 110 RBI are already the most he's recorded since 2010, and his .796 OPS would represent his best mark since his inaugural season in Los Angeles.