Three-time World Series champion signs with Atlantic League team amid comeback attempt

The Staten Island FerryHawks of the independent Atlantic League have signed Pablo Sandoval to a contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.  The team confirmed the news.  It is the latest step in Sandoval’s comeback attempt after he didn’t play during the 2023 season.

Sandoval spent most of his 14 major league seasons with the Giants, becoming a Bay Area legend for his contributions to the “Even Year” mini-dynasty that saw the team win the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014.  The third baseman hit .344/.389/.546 over 167 plate appearances during those postseasons, coming up particularly big in the latter two of those championship runs.  The highlight was World Series MVP honors in 2012, as Sandoval had a whopping 1.654 OPS in 17 plate appearances, including three homers in Game 1 of the Fall Classic.

After an ill-fated free deal with the Red Sox didn’t work out, Sandoval found himself back in San Francisco for parts of the 2017-20 seasons.  He then appeared in 69 games with the 2021 Braves, and he hasn’t since re-appeared on the major league radar.  The Kung Fu Panda played in the Mexican League in 2022, and he played winter ball in his native Venezuela and in Puerto Rico.

San Francisco inked the 37-year-old Sandoval to a minor league deal in February, and he hit .250/.323/.250 over 31 plate appearances in spring training.  Sandoval made it clear that he didn’t view the signing as a ceremonial gesture, and he was willing to play in the minors in order to continue his career before the Giants released him as part of their Opening Day roster cuts.  Sandoval will now become the latest MLB veteran to ply his trade in the Atlantic League, joining former big leaguers like Justin Williams, Jairo Labourt and Mike Shawaryn on the Staten Island roster.