Pujols has surgery, could start next season late

Pujols underwent a surgical procedure on his foot recently, and is expected to return to full baseball activities in four to five months.

The surgery was to fix a plantar plate on his right big toe as the nagging injury caused Pujols to serve as the team’s designated hitter for the final 28 games of 2015.

Eppler wouldn’t make any promises about Pujols’ availability on opening day.

Pujols has had an up-and-down stint with the Angels since signing with the team before the 2012 season.

Eppler said he is confident with C.J. Cron at first base if Pujols is unavailable at the start of the season.

Pujols hit 40 home runs last season for the seventh time in his career, adding 95 RBIs in 157 games played.

Limited to designated hitter duties in the last third of the 2015 campaign because of ongoing foot problems, Pujols, 35, has required off-season surgery on his right foot.

Eppler said Pujols was on crutches but would be fitted for a walking boot “shortly”. The slugger had trouble with his foot late in the season and was moved from first to DH by the club in a move to alleviate his soreness. However, he will be 36 as he enters the fifth year of a 10-year, back-loaded contract worth $240 million.