Pujols excited to attend Big Papi's number retirement ceremony

When David Ortiz's number is retired by the Boston Red Sox on Friday, the team will be playing host to the Los Angeles Angels and Big Papi's fellow legendary slugger, Albert Pujols, who told Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register he's looking forward to attending his countryman's special ceremony.

"It's pretty awesome," Pujols said. "To be able to see how the city of Boston appreciates his career and celebrates one last time, it will be pretty cool and pretty emotional."

Pujols - who became just the ninth batter in MLB history to join the 600-home run club when he hit a grand slam at the beginning of June - is also from the Dominican Republic and remembers meeting Ortiz as a teenager.

The 37-year-old Angels slugger is just five years younger than Big Papi, and the two will likely end up in Cooperstown together as well.

Ortiz retired following last season at the age of 40 after turning in arguably the best campaign of his career. The Red Sox star slashed an incredible .315/.401/.620 while posting the highest OPS in all of baseball in his final year.