Pablo Sandoval

Infobox MLB player
name = Pablo Sandoval

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width = 300
caption =
team = San Francisco Giants
number = 48
positionplain = Catcher, First baseman, Third baseman
birthdate = birth date and age|1986|8|11
birthplace = city-state|Carabobo|Venezuela
bats = Both
throws = Both
debutdate = August 14
debutyear = 2008
debutteam = San Francisco Giants
statyear = September 13, 2008
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .330
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 3
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 15
teams =
*San Francisco Giants (by|2008–present)

Pablo E. Sandoval (born August 11, 1986 in Carabobo, Venezuela) is a professional baseball player for the San Francisco Giants. He is 5ft-11in tall and weighs 245 pounds. He is a switch hitter and he throws right-handed.

Signed as an undrafted free agent in by|2002, Sandoval began his professional career as a catcher in by|2004 with the AZL Giants, hitting .266 with no home runs and 26 RBIs in 177 at-bats. In by|2005, he was used almost entirely as a third baseman while playing for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. He hit .330 with three home runs and 50 RBI. His batting average slumped in by|2006 to .265. He had one home run and 49 RBI with the Augusta GreenJackets that year, splitting time between first and third base. In by|2007, he played for the San Jose Giants, hitting .287 with 11 homers and 52 RBI. That season, he was used as a catcher/first baseman.

In by|2008, he spent time with two minor league teams, the Single-A San Jose Giants and the Double-A Connecticut Defenders, before being called up to the majors. In 273 at-bats for San Jose, he hit .359 with 12 home runs and 59 RBI. In 175 at-bats with Connecticut, he hit .337 with eight homers and 37 RBIs. In total, he hit .350 with 20 home runs and 96 RBIs, through August 13, 2008. He was called up to the majors on August 13, 2008, and went 0 for 3 with an RBI in his first game.

Sandoval has a distinctive and spiritual pre-at bat ritual he uses to honor members of his family. He draws a cross behind the plate and thanks God for the opportunity to get another hit, then skips through the box and taps his spikes alternately three times for his deceased grandmother, grandfather and sister Diana (who died in a car crash when only a year old).

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sandopa01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=12987 Baseball Reference minors]
* [http://thebaseballcube.com/players/S/Pablo-Sandoval.shtml The Baseball Cube]

Persondata
NAME= Sandoval, Pablo
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Sandoval, Pablo E.
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Venezuelan baseball catcher/third baseman/first baseman
DATE OF BIRTH= 1986-8-11
PLACE OF BIRTH= city-state|Carabobo|Venezuela
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=