Becoming a father changed Panda’s life
By César Augusto Márquez
Pablo Sandoval’s life changed drastically in 2016. Injuries kept him from living up to the expectations that came with the contract he signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2015, and his baseball future was uncertain.
On a personal level, though, there were many reasons to smile. His son Liam was born that year, so he at least found comfort knowing the injury gave him the opportunity to be a full-time father.
“I have four beauties, and each one occupies part of my heart,” he said. “It’s a love that never changes. Nonetheless, the connection with my son is very special in part because the injury that kept me from playing made me stay at home. Unlike what happened with my three daughters, I was busy at home with him, helping his mother change diapers and prepare his bottles.”
Sandoval was a big star in the San Francisco Bay area. His postseason exploits live in the hearts of Giants fans and on a plaque at AT&T Park. His jersey’s No. 48 and the date of Oct. 24, 2012, are engraved on the plaque, which commemorates the day he went into the history books as the fourth player in baseball history to hit three home runs in a World Series game.
The most difficult thing for him occurred after he set off to Boston. He hit .237 with a .546 OPS over 161 games in parts of three seasons with the Red Sox. After losing his starting spot to Travis Shaw, Sandoval played only three games before he was lost for the season with a shoulder injury.
“Having Liam made me reconsider many things in my life.”
“Being a father is something that definitely changes your life, so you start to reconsider some things,” he said. “I woke up at 5 in the morning every day. I’d see him sleeping, and I’d promise him that I’d return to my previous playing level so that he could be proud of me and enjoy his father.”
Sandoval signed a minor-league deal with the Giants after the Red Sox released him in 2017. He was back in the big leagues later that season. The affection Giants fans have for Sandoval was palpable this spring. Long lines of fans often waited for his autograph near the dugout at Scottsdale Park.
“Pablo, you should have never left,” a fan told Sandoval. “It’s a joy to have you back.”
Sandoval responded with the usual charismatic smile that Giants fans had grown to love.
A long trip
Sandoval was 16 when he arrived in the United States with $30 in his pocket. He didn’t speak English, and everything seemed new to him as he began his journey to the majors.
“At 16, the majority of the boys in Venezuela are going through the usual things kids go through at that age,” he said. “But I was working, so it was difficult to find myself at that age in a foreign country for the first time looking for a way to try to explain myself to others with only $30 in my pockets and lots of doubts.
“I tried to communicate through sign language. I carried a dictionary in my pocket everywhere I went. What I did motivated me to do things better and grow as a person. I was a catcher and I knew I had to make sure people could understand what I said.”
Considering what his first time in the United States meant, Sandoval considers 2006 his most difficult year in the minors. He was at Class A Augusta.
“The financial struggles were very big,” he said. “Seven of us lived in the same apartment. We were all teammates. Our two-week paychecks weren’t enough to pay for all of our expenses, such as rent and food.
“Those are definitely experiences that teach you to appreciate reaching the majors.”
Sandoval’s journey is not complete.
“I received an opportunity for my son and my fans,” he said. “I’m going to prove that Kung Fu Panda will be here awhile.”
Featured Image: Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport