Giants Invite Former World Series Hero Pablo Sandoval to Camp, per Report

Panda will be wearing a San Francisco uniform once again.

The San Francisco Giants are inviting a fan-favorite back to spring training camp.

Three-time World Series champion and 2012 October Classic MVP Pablo Sandoval plans to report to camp in Scottsdale, Ariz., as a non-roster invitee, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic.

Sandoval, who last appeared in the big leagues in 2021, is eyeing an MLB comeback after spending the 2022 campaign in the Mexican League and last year in Baseball United, a league in Dubai.

Sandoval has played 11 seasons for the Giants across two stints from 2008 to ‘14 and again from 2017 to ‘20. In 1,380 career games, Sandoval has logged a .278/.330/.443 slash line with 262 doubles and 153 home runs.

The infielder, nicknamed “Panda,” won three World Series titles with the franchise in 2010, ‘12 and ‘14. He was named the World Series MVP after he went 8 for 16 with three home runs as the Giants swept the Detroit Tigers in 2012.

In 2015, Sandoval inked a five-year contract worth $90 million with the Boston Red Sox. He struggled in Boston, logging a .646 OPS in 161 games, and was designated for assignment in 2017.

Sandoval rejoined the Giants that summer and was an above-average hitter in 2018 (101 OPS+) and ’19 (113 OPS+). 

The 37-year-old can play third and first base, providing San Francisco with extra depth at the corners as they examine their roster in spring training.