Albert Pujols Sends Number 700 Over The Fence

via CBS Sports

St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujuls was nicknamed The Machine for being so consistent at a game meant for failure. Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pujols cemented himself as one of the best players the game has ever seen, cracking home runs number 699 and 700 out of Dodger Stadium. This made him only the fourth member of the exclusive 700 home run club.

Pujols joins the ranks among some of the most legendary names in all of baseball: Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds. I have been watching Pujols develop as a player since I was a child, playing the video game Backyard Baseball 2006 which featured him on the cover.

However, Pujols may be the last 700 home run hitter we see in major league baseball for a while, and for many reasons. The number one obstacle being a hitter’s need for consistency over many years. To achieve this milestone by hitting 35 home runs for two decades straight is definitely not an easy feat. How many players can start their MLB career in their early twenties and play injury free for the next decade or two?

Next, the game is evolving with younger, faster pitchers who are throwing harder. Velocity is no longer just a talent, but something that can be achieved through training and definitely a necessity. The MLB has become a league with a higher turnover rate with minor leaguers getting better and providing more top quality talent at managers’ fingertips, allowing them to make changes to line ups and not having their starting players compete everyday. 

Of today's top players, I think Juan Soto of the San Diego Padres has the best chance to be the next hitter to reach the career 700 home run club. Soto came up as a teenager and has been one of the top players and hitters since coming into the league. Even though Soto has accumulated just 124 career home runs, he is only 23 years old and could potentially play another 15-20 years. But consistency will be the biggest test of all. Who do you think will be the next member of the 700 home run club?