Cesar Tordesillas

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols said Friday his knee wouldn't keep him from playing in the April 1 season opener at Cincinnati.

Pujols considers the arthroscopic surgery he underwent on the right knee in October as just a minor cleanup procedure.

But his spring-training routine hasn't changed much over 2 1/2 weeks, when he took batting practice, fielding grounder and jogging on a treadmill. He has not run the bases and appears at least two weeks away from playing in an exhibition game.

But Pujols, 33, said he doesn't need any spring games and is ready to go as long as his body feels good.

"I've got 8,000 at-bats in the big leagues," he said, according to ESPN. "I think I've got plenty."

Manager Mike Scioscia chuckled when told of Pujols' comments. "He's probably being a little tongue-in-cheek, but he's not going to need the 40 to 50 to 60 at-bats some guys need," Scioscia said. "He needs to see some velocity to try to get locked and in and get his balance. … But as long as he's playing by the middle of March, there's no doubt he'll be ready."

Pujols did acknowledge that he would need to run the bases for about a week before playing in a game.

"If the season started tomorrow, I'd be out there playing, but there is no reason for me to go out and play when we have five more weeks before opening day," Pujols said. "We're being cautious because we have time. There's no reason to push it."

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Albert Pujols says he'll be ready for Angels Season Opener