Pablo Sandoval’s inevitable return to the San Francisco Giants is here.
The third baseman, who was released by the Boston Red Sox on July 19, was signed by the Giants to a minor-league contract on July 22 and assigned to Single-A San Jose before moving to Triple-A Sacramento.
Sandoval is back in the bigs, though, as San Francisco called him up before Saturday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks to replace injured first baseman Brandon Belt.
Giants are calling up Pablo Sandoval. He replaces Belt, who is on 7-day concussion DL.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) August 5, 2017
Sandoval, who hit .207 in Sacramento, won’t be eased back into the Giants’ lineup — he’s slated to hit cleanup in his return to San Francisco.
Pablo Sandoval batting cleanup today. #sfgiants. pic.twitter.com/12shsk0gOX
— Vince Cestone (@Vince_Cestone) August 5, 2017
Sandoval starred for the Giants from 2008 to 2014, and San Francisco hopes he can inject some life into its struggling offense.
UPDATE (1 a.m. ET):Â The Giants are undefeated with Sandoval in the lineup.
The veteran went 1-for-3 with a run scored from the cleanup spot Saturday in San Francisco’s 5-4, walk-off win over Arizona. Buster Posey pinch-hit for Sandoval in the eighth inning.
Thumbnail photo via Patrick McDermott/USA TODAY Sports Images
