St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols Details 'Emotional' Moment Carrying Darryl Kile's Jersey on the Field After His Death (Exclusive)

Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals walks with Darryl Kile #57
Credit: Elsa/Getty

Pujols says Kile took him under his wing when he joined the team in 2001, noting that the pitcher was "somebody in my life that made a huge impact."

"We lost him at a young age. DK was a great human being, not just for me. Every teammate that we had, he made a huge impact," he shares. "For me, it was just really short. I wish he was still here with us, but I think he left his mark in baseball. A veteran guy, he took me under his wing and taught me the right way."

Looking back on that day, Pujols said the team was already at Wrigley Field for pregame warmups when they were told that Kile had been found dead in his hotel room. Kile's death was ruled to be from natural causes after it was discovered that he had an enlarged heart and had 90% blockage in two of his coronary arteries.

"I was at the stadium, and we found out about it. I was devastated because it was somebody that I honor, I respect him, and it was tough on his family as well," Pujols shares. "I know that he left a really huge mark, not just on myself, but so many other baseball players."

Albert Pujols
Credit: Harry How/Getty

Fast forward 24 years and Pujols was recently named the national ambassador for Merck's new program Playing with Heart. Merck is partnering with the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Braves, Astros, Cardinals, Giants, Padres and Angels to help educate fans about high bad cholesterol (LDL) and how it may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.

One of the reasons the two-time World Series champion said yes to the partnership is because of Kile, he tells PEOPLE.

"When I got approached about this program, I said yes because I think I owe it to him and also to make sure that people know about the program," he shares. "As an athlete, sometimes we forget that it doesn't matter what kind of shape you are. If you don't check yourself and make sure that your cholesterol is low and not too high, it can cause you a problem in the future."

According to Pujols, Kile left a legacy as "a great leader" and a "great human being."

"As a player, we all have a responsibility. We got our family and our community, and DK did all those great things and he did an excellent job. That's how I want people to remember him. Not just this great pitcher who was on the mound with a big curveball," he says. "At that time, he had one of the best curveballs in the league, but I think the person that he was and the amazing heart that he was just unbelievable, and he was a great example for me, for myself."

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Pujols recalls a meaningful moment he shared with Kile while they were in Houston, when the pitcher turned to him and said, "You know why I'm taking the time to really teach you about the game is because I know you're gonna do it for somebody else in the future."

That advice, Pujols says, "stuck with me in my life and my career."

"From there on, I felt that it was more than just representing the Cardinals, the Dodgers, the Angels, it's about helping others in the community, your teammates and whoever needs help. I learned all those things and give a lot of credit to those guys along the way," Pujols shares. "We don't have to do it, but I think because I feel that it's part of the responsibility, we have to. For me, it was part of growing up in the game, along with being a great baseball player, that really shaped me to become the man that I am today."

Kannon Kile (L), son of deceased St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile, gets a high five from Cardinals' Jim Edmonds
Credit: JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty

While Pujols retired from Major League Baseball in 2022, he is now focused on spreading awareness about heart health.

"My job for me now is to use that platform that God has given me in the game, but also get connected with programs like Playing with Heart to make sure that people go to the doctor, check themselves, and check their cholesterol, so they can live a long life," Pujols shares.

During the 2026 baseball season, the Playing with Heart program will feature a lineup of baseball legends, clubs and ambassadors who will share their personal stories about high cholesterol and how it may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Merck, along with the WomenHeart patient education network and nine professional baseball teams, will also host in-stadium events to provide education about bad cholesterol and to help encourage adults to learn more about the increased risk of heart attack or stroke.

"The leading cause of death in the United States, and it's actually on the rise, is what's called ASCVD, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. High, bad LDL is increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes," Cris Regent, associate vice president, U.S. Pharma Cardiovascular and Metabolic, Merck, tells PEOPLE. "We need to let people know that they should talk to their doctor about high, bad cholesterol. With their doctor, they can work out a plan, but it needs to be something they pay attention to because it's the leading cause of death and it's on the rise."

Pujols emphasizes that "it can affect anybody."

"It doesn't matter. You can be in the best shape ever. Going to the gym and you can die from heart attacks like that. It's tough," he says. "With a program like this, where you can get more education and even including myself, I got involved with it, and now I'm getting more educated about it and how serious how important this is."

Read the original article on People