Max Kellerman ‘apologizes’ after insinuating Cardinals’ hitter Albert Pujols has been using PEDs

While Albert Pujols inches closer and closer to 700 career home runs, some in the sports media world are wondering how he got this far in the twilight of his career.

Pujols just hit his 697th career home run against the Pirates – passing Alex Rodriguez to take sole possession of 4th place on the MLB’s all-time home run leader list.

It’s almost impossible that the slugger will reach Babe Ruth’s 714 career homers, which sits 3rd all-time behind Hank Aaron in 2nd (755) and Barry Bonds in 1st (762).

ESPN’s Max Kellerman used a portion of an episode of ‘This Just In’ he was hosting to wonder how Pujols got to this point, insinuating there may be some impermissible methods to reach that number. 

Max Kellerman (L) seemed to insinuate that Albert Pujols’ home run hitting wasn’t natural

‘It is amazing, how Pujols, who was in steady decline for years, suddenly, it’s like he discovered the fountain of youth! I don’t know how he’s doing it! The bat speed, everything, oh my God! He’s killing the ball.’ Kellerman said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

‘Bartender, I’ll have whatever he’s having! This is unbelievable. He sure has turned back the clock…how does a player turn back the clock like this? 

‘I guess it’s willpower and practice. All these years between then and now he hasn’t been practicing, apparently.’

Kellerman apologized on Tuesday’s airing of the program, though that didn’t seem to diffuse the situation much. 

‘We showed video of Albert Pujols as he chases 700 home runs,’ Kellerman stated. ‘I commented that he seemed to be hitting the ball much better than he has in a long time.

‘Some, including Albert, inferred that my curiosity as to how he was achieving this recent level of success could only mean that he was benefiting from something other than a lot of hard work, practice and his natural ability. For that, I apologize to Albert and the Cardinals’ organization.’

Pujols recently hit his 697th career home run, moving up to 4th all-time on the career HR list

Fans of Pujols called Kellerman out on Twitter, with his on-air apology not being taken well.

‘That was not an apology,’ one user wrote. ‘That was a backhand to the Cardinals and Pujols. He merely apologized for their “misinterpretation” of what he said. I can’t stand Kellerman… because [he] always aim for the shock.’

Another user wrote, ‘Not that I needed any more reasons not to listen to an idiot like Max Kellerman, him taking shots at Albert Pujols, one of the best to ever do it, is just another nail in his coffin.’

‘Max Kellerman’s take on Albert Pujols is horrendous and slanderous. He was very careful to not accuse Pujols of taking PEDs because he knew a lawsuit would be coming his way if he actually said what he we insinuating. It’s cowardly and pathetic. Absurd,’ wrote another.

That fear of a lawsuit isn’t unfounded, as Pujols once sued former MLB player Jack Clark for accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs earlier in his playing days. Pujols dropped the lawsuit and Clark retracted his statement.

Pujols and the Cardinals have a 7 game lead in the NL Central and could soon officially lock up a playoff spot.

Pujols and the Cardinals could soon officially clinch a playoff spot in the coming weeks