Boston Red Sox Could Get Pablo Sandoval Back This Year
By David Hill
Pablo Sandoval has had a season to forget, making all of seven plate appearances for the Boston Red Sox this season. However, the third baseman could come back this season.
The 2016 season has been one to forget for Pablo Sandoval. The Boston Red Sox third baseman came into camp looking more like a small planet than a baseball player, a thought that was confirmed when Dustin Pedroia wandered too close and was sucked into his gravitational pull. He lost his starting job, and after seven unproductive at bats, was placed on the disabled list, undergoing shoulder surgery in May.
At the time, it was expected that Sandoval would be lost for the season. And, well, given his lack of production since coming to Boston, it was not a big loss. However, as the Red Sox are getting ready for the postsesaon, Sandoval is working his way back, and is reportedly ahead of schedule.
On the surface, the idea that Sandoval could contribute in any way whatsoever to the Red Sox in the postseason is ludicrous. After all, he has not swung a bat in a Major League game since April, and has not exactly performed well since signing. How could he be an asset in the postseason?
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However, this may not be the same Sandoval that the Boston Red Sox have seen over the past two years. Sandoval has reportedly lost 22 pounds, allowing him to be in a shape that is not spherical. Perhaps, while undergoing his shoulder surgery, Sandoval also got a gastric bypass, as belts everywhere no longer have to fear for their existence.
At best, Sandoval would likely be nothing more than a contingency plan. If Travis Shaw or Hanley Ramirez get injured, then Sandoval could conceivably be activated to fill that space on the roster. Of course, even in that situation, the odds of Sandoval contributing would seem to be quite long.
If such a scenario were to happen, it would be the ultimate in redemption stories. Sandoval, who has been a high priced mistake, could change the narrative with a stellar postseason. However, he would need to quite a bit to happen in order to get that opportunity.
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Pablo Sandoval’s season may not be over just yet. He could play a factor in the Boston Red Sox quest for their fourth World Series title this century.