The San Francisco Giants aren’t expected to do much this season, with most sportsbooks predicting around a .500 season, but the team will at least have a familiar face from its past glory days, with Pablo Sandoval heading to its spring training site as a non-roster invitee, according to NBC Sports Bay Area.
The 37-year-old Sandoval last played in the majors in 2021, when he appeared in 69 games with the Atlanta Braves.
He’s best remembered for his 11 years with the Giants, which included three World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014 and a pair of All-Star selections.
Sandoval left the Giants for the Boston Red Sox following that 2014 World Series championship and returned to San Francisco during the 2017 season.
He spent 2022 playing Mexico and spent time in the Puerto Rican Winter League last offseason and even played in Dubai its new league in 2023, along with former Met, Bartolo Colon.
Despite the name recognition, it’s difficult to see how Sandoval would fit into the Giants’ plans this season.
The switch-hitting Sandoval could provide some left-handed at-bats for a team that’s lacking in that department, but he hasn’t produced at the big league level since 2019, when he hit 14 homers in 296 plate appearances for the Giants.
The Giants just agreed to a deal with Jorge Soler, who figures to get most of the DH at-bats and it’s still possible they sign Matt Chapman to play third base.
Both are right-handed hitters, though, leaving a potential door open for Sandoval.
Last spring, San Francisco signed former closer Sergio Romo to a free agent deal to allow Romo to retire as a Giant after being part of those same three championship-winning teams.