MLB legend uses late teammate's story to spread awareness on heart health, high cholesterol

St. Louis Cardinals icon Adam Wainwright is honoring former Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile, who died in 2002 of a heart attack, by spreading awareness about heart health.

Albert Pujols was in the midst of his second MLB season when he was at Wrigley Field and about to find out some of the worst news of his life.

Pujols' St. Louis Cardinals were in Chicago on June 22, 2002, to take on their NL Central rival Cubs when catcher Joe Girardi announced to the Wrigley Field crowd that their game had been canceled due to a "tragedy in the Cardinals family."

Right before Girardi addressed the crowd, the Cardinals were informed that starting pitcher Darryl Kile had suddenly died at age 33.

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Albert Pujols and Darryl Kile of the Cardinals walk on the field during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 10, 2001. (Elsa/Getty Images)

"I mean, it was devastating, and you start crying, it was a bad experience for us," Pujols recalled to Fox News Digital about "the first guy to take me under his wing."

Nearly 24 years after Kile's death, though, the pitcher's impact on Pujols remains strong. Now, Pujols is doing his part to return the favor.

The future Hall of Famer is joining Kile's daughter to raise awareness of the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol with their "Playing With Heart" program after Cardinals legend Adam Wainwright joined the fight last year.

This year, a total of nine ballclubs have joined the cause, including Pujols' and Kile's Cardinals, the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels, Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves.

"What her father did to