Pablo Sandoval, a long-time San Francisco Giants fan favorite, received a non-roster spring training invitation from the Giants, NBC Sports Bay Area reported Saturday, though he’s a long shot to make the big-league club.
The report added that this is not expected to be a situation similar to that of Sergio Romo, who was signed last year so that he could retire as a member of the Giants.
Sandoval, 37, last played in the majors in 2021, hitting four home runs and carrying a batting average of .178 through 69 games with the Atlanta Braves.
Nicknamed “Kung Fu Panda,” Sandoval has played in a few Latin American leagues recently, last appearing in a pro game in Dubai in late 2023.
He also played 91 games in the Mexican League in 2022.
Signed by the Giants as a 17-year-old in 2004, Sandoval debuted with San Francisco four years later, playing for three of the Giants’ World Series title teams.
Sandoval, named MVP of the 2012 Series, hit three home runs in Game 1 that year. He joined the Boston Red Sox in free agency after the 2014 season.
Sandoval holds a career batting average of .278 with 159 home runs and 639 RBIs in 1,380 games. He is a two-time All-Star.
– Field Level Media