Pujols aims for return this season
Albert Pujols is hoping to make it back yet this season from a plantar fascia tear in his left foot that forced the Angels to place him on the disabled list earlier this week.
The first baseman-designated hitter told reporters on Thursday night before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays that the injury will not require surgery. He expects to have a walking boot off in three weeks and begin rehab.
"I'll see how I feel (at that point)," Pujols said, according to MLB.com. "But it's still a long way until the season is done, so I don't want to say that I'm done for the season. This is something that I'm going to take day by day.
"The way I feel right now, with no pain, I can say that I can go out there and play. But I need to put that weight on my heel and that's going to take some time. I feel really good, to tell you the truth. I don't feel any pain at all. I think after that tear, it kind of released the pain, which is good."
The 33-year-old Pujols, who also said he had played at "45 percent" this year, is batting .258 with 17 home runs and 64 RBI in 99 games this season.
