Saint Louis Cardinals’ first baseman Albert Pujols announced that he and his wife Deidre are separating following her successful brain tumor surgery.
The MLB star’s agent released a statement that revealed that after being married since 2000, the two have decided to split. “I’ve been asked a lot of questions over the past few days regarding what’s been going on at home and sadly, after 22 years of marriage, I have made the decision to file for divorce from my wife, Deidre,” Pujols shared.
He went on to bring attention to the fact that many families experience divorce and that the stressors in his life do not make this news ideal, but he felt it was important to share. “I realize this is not the most opportune time with Opening Day approaching and other family events that have recently taken place,” he explained. “These situations are never easy and isn’t something that just happened overnight.”
Pujols, who played for the Cardinals from 2001 to 2011 and recently signed a one-year deal with the team for the upcoming season, also acknowledged how religion impacted his decision to divorce his wife. Relaying that he sought guidance from his religion, he discovered that separating from his wife was the best decision for their family.
“As a devout Christian, this is an outcome that I never wanted to see happen,” he said in his statement. “For many long days and nights, I prayed, asking the Lord for His guidance.”
Albert Pujols and ex-wife Deidre are ‘committed’ to raising their children in a positive home environment
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Among the most important parts of the split, the baseball player explained that ensuring his five children remain happy is a top priority. He commented that although he and Deidre no longer are involved in a romantic relationship, the two “remain committed” to parenting their children together “in a loving and safe environment.”
“I am thankful for the five beautiful children that we brought into this world and remain committed to raising them in a loving and safe environment,” Pujols stated.
The St. Louis Cardinal, who hit .236 with 17 homers last season during his time with the Dodgers and the Angels, concluded his statement by requesting privacy from fans around the world. “I ask that you please respect our privacy and the privacy of our five children during this time.”
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