JUPITER, Fla. — For the first time in several springs, Albert Pujols has peace of mind. Reconstructive elbow surgery no longer hangs over his head.
Last year’s unanimous NL MVP had a half-dozen bone spurs removed from his chronically troublesome right elbow during offseason surgery. When he awoke, doctors told him it was likely he’ll never have to undergo reconstructive surgery. That had been a possibility since 2003.
Pre- and postoperative consultation with Dr. James Andrews and Dr. George Paletta, the team physician, eased any worries.
“I told Dr. Paletta and Dr. Andrews, ‘If you go in there and you see something different from the test, go ahead and get it done,’ ” Pujols said Sunday. “They didn’t. It’s good news to hear Dr. Andrews tell me that probably you will never have to worry about having the Tommy John (surgery).”
The three-time MVP, however, is getting tired of talking about a contract extension.
Pujols has a year remaining on a seven-year, $100 million contract, plus the Cardinals have an option for 2011. The 30-year-old Pujols has consistently said there’s no hurry for a new deal.
“It’s getting to the point that it’s getting irritating to talk about my contract,” Pujols said. “Let’s wait until something happens, and then we’re going to have all the answers and you can throw every question you want.”
Pujols and Matt Holliday both hit the field for the first time Sunday, two days ahead of the first full-squad workout. That’s peace of mind for manager Tony La Russa, who joked, “We got better today, didn’t we?”
Pujols brought his family, including 2-week-old son Ezra, anxious to swap snowy St. Louis for mid-70s temperatures at the team’s spring training complex in south Florida.
Holliday showed up not to knock off rust but to hit the ground running.
“I come in ready to get after it,” Holliday said. “The first at-bat of the first game, I’ll be expecting results. It’s probably not a good idea, but I’m here to compete.”
Both players had sessions with new hitting instructor Mark McGwire and were eager to work with the former home run king.
Holliday and fifth-place hitter Ryan Ludwick spent two days with Big Mac in Austin, Texas, last month.
