The Dominican Republic has chosen former Cardinals and Angels star Albert Pujols as its next manager for the 2026 World Baseball Classic and will make the announcement official sometime in March, sources told ESPN's Enrique Rojas.

Fresh off winning both winter ball championships as a manager in the Dominican Republic, three-time MVP is set for prominent international tournament, ESPN reports.

Future Hall of Famer views these managerial opportunities as a chance to grow, with the ultimate goal of becoming a big league skipper.

ESPN’s Enrique Rojas reports that Albert Pujols will be the manager for the Dominican Republic at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Pujols recently led Leones del Escogido to the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) title last month and the Caribbean Series championship,

Former St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is guaranteeing one of his former players would make a great manager. Albert Pujols wants a shot at managing a Major League Baseball team. La Russa thinks that would be just terrific.

Albert Pujols is ready to manage an MLB team tomorrow in his eyes, and as great as that would be for baseball, he's better off waiting his turn. Pujols deserves the right to manage a team that fits his own interests and expectations.