Pablo Sandoval Comeback Bid Draws Conflicting Outlooks
As San Francisco Giants fan favorite Pablo Sandoval attempts a comeback at age 37, one report already is throwing water on the idea.
“Despite the name recognition, it’s difficult to see how Sandoval would fit into the Giants’ plans this season,” The New York Post’s Dan Martin wrote in a story published February 18, the day before the Giants announced that Sandoval was signed to a minor league contract as a non-roster invitee to the Giants’ spring training camp in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Martin wrote that Sandoval “hasn’t produced at the big league level” since 2019, the year he hit 14 home runs for the Giants. He last played in the major leagues in 2021 with the Atlanta Braves, hitting just .178 with a .645 OPS and 4 homers in 69 games.
But NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic had a more optimistic take on Sandoval’s comeback bid.
“Sandoval was at Oracle Park last August for the Mike Murphy ceremony and was much slimmer than in his playing days, and he apparently has continued to work hard through the offseason,” Pavlovic reported on February 17 . “At the very least, he should bring another jolt of energy to the clubhouse this spring, and if he can hang around through March, he can play at Oracle Park one last time as [Sergio] Romo did last year.
Does Pablo Sandoval Have Anything Left in the Tank?
Sandoval’s best bet for getting on the Giants’ Opening Day roster is as a backup to first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr., according to MLB.com’s Maria Guardado.
“Still, the Giants don’t have many lefty options at first base outside of Wade, so Sandoval could potentially force himself into the infield conversation if he can show that he has something left in the tank this spring,” Guardado wrote on February 19.
