Legendary slugger and future first-ballot Hall of Famer Albert Pujols has been named manager of the Dominican Republic team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he told reporters at Angels spring training Sunday.

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

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.