The first meeting between Ben Johnson and Albert Pujols is one that couldn’t be pinpointed by Johnson. Rather, something else comes to mind when Johnson thinks back on his first encounter with Pujols during their time as minor-leaguers following the 1999 MLB draft.
“Now I remember the first time I watched him hit,” said Johnson, a former fourth-round pick by the Cardinals who now manages the franchise’s Class AAA affiliate. “And it was crystal clear that he was a lot bigger and stronger than everybody else, and he could really handle the bat.”
Aaron Penberthy — a former catcher and the Cardinals’ 25th-round pick in that year’s draft — shares a similar Pujols story when he reflects on his playing career.