The Giants were playing a series in Houston last month when Pablo Sandoval received alarming news.
His wife, Yulimar, had been rushed to the emergency room after contracting COVID-19. Four other relatives of the Venezuelan, including his two children, also tested positive and presented symptoms. It was an overwhelming situation for Sandoval, prompting foreman Gabe Kapler to give the 34-year-old infielder a break to allow him to stay close to the phone and monitor his wife’s condition.
“My wife was very ill,” Sandoval said Monday in a video conference with the media. “They took her to the emergency room a couple of times. The rest of the family had symptoms. This is one of those situations where when something is happening to you off the pitch, especially considering that the season was stopped because of that, you worry a little more. My two children are high risk, so I was even more concerned. “
Sandoval revealed that his affected relatives have already recovered and that no one has symptoms right now. The veteran was never absent from the team, but acknowledged that it was difficult to focus on baseball during the scare his family went through.
Sandoval hadn’t addressed the media since spring training, adding that criticism he received for his weight during spring camp influenced his decision to turn down multiple interview requests over the past two months.
“I am aware of the player that I am,” Sandoval said. “I am aware of the boy that I am. It does not matter. I didn’t speak to you for a long time because of that. I didn’t want to fill my mind with negative things. “
On Monday, the switch hitter and infielder saw starting action for the first time this season at third base in place of Evan Longoria, who was ruled out due to right glute pain. Kapler said the decision was made as a precaution and that Sandoval had been working hard to be ready to defend the hot corner when necessary.
Sandoval, who signed a minor league contract to return to the Giants after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September of last year, had contributed as a valuable piece of the bench in recent years, but came into Monday hitting just .208 with a hitting .208 hitting. an OPS of .522 in 30 games. However, Kapler has said multiple times that he still considers Sandoval a dangerous bat, especially against right-handers.
“It’s a very short season,” Sandoval said. “You try to do everything possible to produce. Sometimes you don’t get the results you want, but, in short, you have to keep working and preparing yourself for the situations in which they are going to put me to play. I prepare every day and come here to work hard. I keep working on cages and batting practice to maintain my swing. ” (GG) / Taken MLB.COM)