Albert Pujols spent 23 seasons taking care of his body like it was his job. As a professional baseball player, regular physicals, doctors, and access to some of the best medical care were simply part of the routine.
But even Pujols recognizes that there is a dangerous mindset that can creep in as men get older: If you feel fine, you assume you are fine.
“Something that we put to the side, especially men, is like, ‘Oh, I feel great. I’m good. I don’t need to go see the doctor,’” Pujols tells Men’s Journal. “Until we really feel something going on, you know. And you don’t want to wait for that moment.”
Albert Puljos Encourages Men to Be More Proactive About Their Health
Now 46, the future Hall of Famer is using his platform to encourage men to be more proactive about their health as part of Abbott’s “Mind Your Behind” campaign with Cologuard Plus, which aims to raise awareness about colorectal cancer screening.
Pujols says his own experience as an athlete taught him the value of taking care of himself, but he also recognizes that not everyone has the luxury of having doctors regularly monitoring their health.
“Not everybody has the same opportunity of being a professional athlete and having doctors every year doing physicals on you twice a year and all that, making sure everything is well,” he says.
That makes preventative care even more important.
Colorectal cancer screening is recommended beginning at age 45 for adults at average risk, and Abbott says approximately 60 million eligible Americans remain unscreened or are overdue for screening. The Cologuard Plus test is a prescription-based, at-home screening option for adults 45 and older who are at average risk. The company says the test detects 95 percent of colon cancers.
Pujols recently completed his own screening as he reached the recommended screening age.
“I’m eligible to do the test, which I did,” he says. “It’s really easy, the colorectal test. You can do it at home.”
His biggest message, however, isn’t complicated.
“Be proactive,” Pujols says. “Don’t wait until you feel something.”
He points out that someone can be in excellent physical condition and still have no obvious symptoms, which is one reason he believes men shouldn’t use feeling healthy as a reason to skip recommended screenings.
Colorectal cancer is particularly relevant to Pujols because he wants to use his platform to get more men talking about a subject they might otherwise avoid.
“I think anytime you can raise that voice and be part of it, you have to do it,” he says.
Pujols hopes his involvement will encourage more people to have those conversations and ultimately take action.
“Hopefully I can be another voice, and hopefully because of my voice, there will be many others to follow.”
Pujols Is Ready for His Next Baseball Challenge
Health isn’t the only thing keeping Pujols busy these days.
The three-time MVP has remained closely connected to baseball since retiring following the 2022 season. He has managed in the Dominican Republic and led the Dominican Republic during the 2026 World Baseball Classic, experiences he says have helped prepare him for his next potential career move.
Pujols has been open about wanting to manage in Major League Baseball, and when asked whether he feels ready for that opportunity, his answer is immediate.
“Oh, I love it. I think I’m ready,” he says.
If the opportunity comes, Pujols says he would approach managing the same way he approached playing.
“If it happens, I will take that challenge and try to approach it just the same way that I approached it as a baseball player, with my best preparation, to try to win a title,” he says.
Pujols has already been connected to MLB managerial openings, including the Angels, and his experience managing in the Dominican Republic and with Team Dominican Republic has only strengthened his case.
For now, though, Pujols is enjoying watching the game from a different perspective.
He says one of his favorite things about the current generation of baseball players is simply the talent — and, as he puts it, “the swag.”
From Fernando Tatis Jr. to Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Bryce Harper, Pujols says he enjoys watching the younger generation bring its own energy to the game.
“I get to appreciate that a lot,” he says.
After spending more than three decades playing baseball, Pujols now has a chance to appreciate the sport as both a fan and an analyst while potentially preparing for another chapter in the dugout.
And as he enters his late 40s, he’s carrying the same approach to his health that helped sustain one of baseball’s most remarkable careers: Don’t wait until something is wrong to start paying attention.
For more information on Cologuard Plus®, please see here.
