From 2001 to 2011, Albert Pujols was the most productive hitter in baseball. No player was able to match Pujols’ combination of power and average, as he won three MVP awards (2005, 2008 and 2009) and had nine All-Star appearances while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals.

During that stretch, Pujols was compared to the greatest right-handed hitters in baseball history. And those comparisons were fair, as Pujols’ numbers were as good as any right-hander ever.

In 2012, Pujols signed a huge, long-term contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. But as Pujols got older, his numbers gradually went down. In his first season with Anaheim, Pujols hit .285 with 30 home runs. In 2013, his second season on the West Coast, Pujols played through injuries and hit only .258 with 17 homers. Last season, he hit .272 with 28 home runs.

It appeared that Pujols was starting to show his age. He’s now 35, and this season, many expected his numbers to continue their descent. And while he was hitting just .263 heading into Sunday’s game against the Texas Rangers, he had already hit 24 home runs on the season, showing that there was still some game left in the former MVP’s arsenal.

In Sunday’s 12-6 win over Texas, Pujols jacked his 25th homer of the season, one of his two hits in the game, showing that he’s not slowing down as the All-Star break approaches. And speaking of that All-Star game, Pujols should be on the American League team when the rosters are announced.

Pujols may never again be the player that he once was, but he’s showing he can still play the game at a high level.

Tim Letcher is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TimLetcher , on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.