Pablo Sandoval Is Back in SF. George Kontos Waived

Three time World Series champion Pablo Sandoval is being called up from Triple-A Sacramento as the San Francisco Giants place Brandon Belt on the 7 day concussion DL. Meanwhile, the Giants have released two time World Series champion George Kontos to make room on the 25 man roster.

Sandoval had been released by the Boston Red Sox earlier this season in the middle of a five year contract signed after the 2014 season. The Giants signed the “Kung Fu Panda” back after he cleared waivers and was signed by the Giants three days later. He initially started getting at bats with the San Jose Giants and Sacramento River Cats in the minor leagues.

Sandoval was signed by the Giants at 16 in May of 2003 and spent 12 seasons in the Giants organization. We wrote at the time of his release from the Red Sox just how good Sandoval was for the Giants.

This is Belt’s fourth diagnosed concussion. He missed 46 games when he was accidentally hit in the head by a Marco Scutaro errant throw on July 19 last season.

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“He’s going to need some time,” Manager Bruce Bochy said. “Now, he’s got to be cleared to play, and until then, he won’t play.”

Kontos, who was released, has been claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. In six seasons with the Giants, he had a career record of 15-14, with a 3.05 ERA in 307 relief appearances. He was one of the most used relief pitchers in his time with the Giants. According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle and Baseball Reference, Only Dave Burba and Julian Tavarez had more multiple inning appearances among Giants relievers in the last 25 seasons.

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The Pirates did not offer anything in return for Kontos, but will pay the remainder of his salary.