Pablo Sandoval may have found his niche with the SF Giants - Bullpen catcher

[Brother Buzz]

Squatting Panda: Pablo Sandoval to Catch Bullpen Sessions This Spring


SCOTTSDALE - On his first day in camp, Pablo Sandoval showed reporters that in addition to his third base and first base gloves, he was breaking in a catcher's glove. That was enough to get Sandoval, the emergency catcher this season, signed up to squat for a few bullpen sessions this spring.

"He showed me the glove," manager Bruce Bochy said. "That's all I need."

Sandoval is also carrying an outfield glove this spring ...

"He doesn't need to show me that glove," Bochy said quickly.

It turns out Bochy actually has seen Sandoval play the outfield. The two went to Taiwan with other big leaguers a few years ago to play exhibition games and Sandoval wanted to try the outfield. A line drive was hit into the gap and Sandoval didn't move, simply looking at center fielder Curtis Granderson, who went and chased it down.

Sandoval caught 176 games in the minors but admitted it has been a while since he has even caught a bullpen session. Bochy said that history does not make Sandoval any more likely to actually catch in a game, but he certainly is more qualified than Bochy's past emergency catchers. When Buster Posey got dinged up early last year at Coors Field, Bochy said his emergency guy would be Aaron Hill.

"He just found out today that he's our third catcher," Bochy joked that day.

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https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/csn/giants/Squatting_Panda__Pablo_Sandoval_to_catch_bullpen_sessions_this_spring.html

[Auggie]

1. I think the niche is being paid near the league minimum ...

At his "Red Sox" salary of $19 million a year he's one of the all-time free agent busts.

But at $545,000, about $37,000 above the league minimum salary for veterans, he's a steal.

If he can play to his 2014 defensive level at third and regain most of his stroke (AND keeping the weight down) he's a shoe-in to make the Giants bench.