Sandoval returns, no plans to retire
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. >> Pablo Sandoval saw the farewell Sergio Romo got last season, signing up for spring training with the franchise he won three World Series with and a glorious final appearance in front of the home fans.
“I don't want to do that,” Sandoval said Monday, standing in front of a freshly printed No. 48 jersey in the San Francisco Giants' spring training clubhouse. “Not yet.”
At 37 years old, three years removed from his last major-league at-bat, the beloved Kung Fu Panda is back in Scottsdale this spring. He signed a minor- league deal with a non-ros- ter invitation to big-league camp that was made offi- cial Monday, the day of the team's first full-squad workout.
There's nothing ceremonial about this signing, according to Sandoval, who appeared noticeably trimmer than the last time he wore the uniform. (Weight isn't the only thing he has dropped: Sandoval, a former switch-hitter, will only bat from the left side.)
“I want to play baseball. I want to get back,” Sandoval said. “This is going to be an inspiration for me after being out for a long time. Get back on track. It's not going to be easy, but it's a big challenge, a good challenge for me. Being through this before, this one is going to be more special for me.”
While manager Bob Melvin was on the other side of the bay for the majority of Sandoval's original tenure in San Francisco, he got to know him at the 2012 All-Star Game and welcomed the message relayed by Farhan Zaidi earlier this week that Sandoval would be signing up for camp.
“He's had a big impact on this over the years. He's got an infectious personality,” Melvin said. “He's experienced. He's motivated. I think there's a lot that can rub off on some of our younger guys too.”
That said, Melvin didn't sugarcoat the odds of Sandoval cracking the Opening Day roster.
“He doesn't want to hear anything about what his chances are,” Melvin said. “He's gonna go out there and he's going to play and he's gonna try to force our hand.”
Sandoval hasn't played in the major leagues since he was released by Cleveland upon being traded there from Atlanta at the 2021 trade deadline.
But he hasn't stopped playing baseball.
Sandoval split time in 2022 between two teams in the Mexican League. He played winter ball in Venezuela after the 2021 season, and traveled to Puerto Rico to play there this past winter. Last season, Sandoval signed up for the inaugural season of Dubai's professional league.
“I went to Dubai because I wanted to play one more time,” Sandoval said.
But it was there that his son, Liam, began to develop a love for the game.