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Major league batting leader Albert Pujols may be headed to reconstructive elbow surgery that could sideline him into next season. Or he might not.

A day after the St. Louis slugger told KSDK television that he was considering having the operation, the Cardinals said it’s not clear whether surgery is needed.

“We are sensitive to Albert’s stated concerns,” general manager John Mozeliak said in a statement. “At no time would we ever ask Albert to consider anything other then what is best for his career and future health.”

Pujols has been playing with a torn ligament since 2003, but the Cardinals said in a statement on Tuesday that management, Pujols and his representatives agree that the injury “does not appear to be season-threatening nor do they have a clear indication that it will or will not require future surgery.”

Fans at Yankee Stadium were going crazy for Josh Hamilton and the theme music from “Rocky” was blaring over the loudspeakers as he hit a record 28 homers in the first round of the All-Star Home Run Derby before running out of gas and getting beaten by Minnesota’s Justin Morneau in the finals Monday night.

The 2006 AL MVP topped an exhausted Josh Hamilton 5-3 in the last round, giving him the derby crown. But the night definetly belonged to Hamilton, a first-time All-Star who put on an amazing power display worthy of Yankee stadium.