Pujols gets an early start

Associated Press

TEMPE, Ariz.

Decked out in Angels’ gear from head to toe, Albert Pujols looked like the same slugger whose swing in St. Louis became as symbolic as the Gateway Arch.

With a halo-topped “A” logo on his cap, Pujols, his massive chest and arms filling out every corner of his red shirt, sat behind a microphone and excitedly announced the start of a new stage of his career.

“Here I am,” he said.

And here he goes.

Arriving just as the morning sun crept above the horizon, and more than a week earlier than required, Pujols reported to training camp Monday with the Los Angeles Angels, who will pay the three-time NL MVP $240 million over the next 10 years to be the face of their franchise — and to hopefully bring them several World Series titles.

“I’m just really excited to be here, it feels good to be outside,” Pujols said. “I’ve been training for three months, hitting in a cage in St. Louis, and it feels good to be here for some spring baseball.”

Although only the Angels’ pitchers and catchers had to be at camp this early, Pujols wanted to be there from Day One as well. That’s how the 32-year-old has done it since breaking into the big leagues in 2001 and he wasn’t about to change his routine.

He also felt it was important to begin bonding with his new teammates, some of whom were caught staring at him from across the clubhouse.

It didn’t take long for Pujols to feel like he was part of the club.

During manager Mike Scioscia’s first team meeting, Pujols’ cellphone rang, earning the superstar his first petty fine, which according to a team official, will require him to buy his skipper lunch.

No major league manager had a more productive offseason than Scioscia. Angels owner Arte Moreno spent $320 million in signing Pujols, left-hander C.J. Wilson (5 years, $77.5 million) and reliever LaTroy Hawkins (1 year, $3 million).

“His whole game, not only being a presence hitting in the middle of the lineup, running the bases. He’s an offensive machine,” Scioscia said.

“He’s a special player and special players are usually multidimensional, and Albert is.”