SAN FRANCISCO–In an ideal world for both parties, Pablo Sandoval would still be a member of the Boston Red Sox and the San Francisco Giants would still be in the playoff hunt in the National League.
But 2017 has hardly been ideal for Sandoval, or for the Giants, and now, they’ll try to recreate some magic together.
On Saturday morning, the Giants purchased Sandoval’s contract from AAA Sacramento and on Saturday evening, the 30-year-old third baseman will start and hit cleanup for San Francisco in its contest against the Diamondbacks.
“You know, it’s good to have Pablo back,” Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy said. “A lot of great memories, it’s funny how this game works. Here he is, back with us. Trying to help us out. I had a chance to talk to him about a half hour ago and he’s excited about being back. I think the fans will give him a nice hand because they have some great memories with him and we need him right now.”
By now, you know the story. Sandoval’s struggles were so monumental that the Boston Red Sox elected to designate him for assignment, despite the fact more than $47 million remained on his five-year, $95 million contract signed less than three years ago. The Giants’ struggles are equally well documented, as a team that began the year hoping to push the Dodgers for a National League West title has floundered, as the club now sits 36 games back of Los Angeles.
Though Sandoval signed a Minor League contract with the Giants on July 22, San Francisco didn’t anticipate him to arrive back at the Major League level so soon. Two weeks later, though, the Giants’ corner infield depth has been decimated, and even though Sandoval was hitting just .207 with the Sacramento River Cats, Bochy said it was time to give the third baseman a shot.
“I think it was time to call up Pablo,” Bochy said. “Initially we were thinking a few more at-bats but sometimes your hand is forced a little bit because of an injury and that’s what happened. We need a little presence here. A guy I hope can help spark us as I mentioned earlier, create some energy and Pablo has always done that. He has a lot of fun playing, he has a lot of passion for this game and he brings a lot of life to the dugout and this club could use a little shot in the arm.”
Sandoval hit .212 in 32 games with the Red Sox this season, after missing all but three games last year with a shoulder injury that wiped out the majority of his season. As a result of all the missed time, Bochy said the Giants wanted Sandoval to received consistent at-bats in the Minor Leagues, but after nine at-bats with A San Jose and 29 at-bats with AAA Sacramento, Sandoval is back in San Francisco.
“He’s (Sandoval) just missed some time,” Bochy said. “He’s been injured a lot. I’m sure he’s tried some things. Abandoned right-handed hitting. When he was young, it was just letting him be who he is and I think that’s important right now. This guy has made a lot of tweaks and adjustments and sometimes it’s just get back to the basics and be yourself and we’ll see where we’re at. We’re not doing a lot of changing right now but we’ll see where he’s at tonight and the next few days.”
The Giants’ skipper said he’s hopeful Sandoval will provide the team with a much-needed jolt of energy, and his presence already made a noticeable difference in the Giants’ clubhouse on Saturday afternoon.
With teammates Gorkys Hernandez, Albert Suarez and Jarrett Parker sitting by their lockers, Sandoval entered the middle of the room, sat in a chair, and began telling stories in Spanish that drew hearty laughs from his teammates. That’s a sight that just hasn’t existed in the Giants’ clubhouse of late, and now that the team knows Sandoval the person is back, Bochy said they’ll try to get the most out of Sandoval the hitter.
“That’s the beauty of Pablo Sandoval, what I think made him so special,” Bochy said. “He kept it pretty simple. He saw the ball and he swung. It wasn’t always a strike, but he had that ability to expand the strike zone. Just be who you are.”