SF Giants legend Pablo Sandoval intends to continue playing career after camp invite

Spring training is officially over and there is no direct path for Pablo Sandoval to make the Opening Day roster. However, the 14-year veteran told Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area that he intends to continue his playing career.

SF Giants legend Pablo Sandoval intends to continue playing career after camp invite

Sandoval confirmed that he would accept an assignment to Triple-A but that conversation has not taken place yet. Before the start of spring training, the Giants extended an invite to the 37-year-old infielder despite not appearing in a major league game since 2021.

At the time, it did not feel like he had a realistic chance of making the Opening Day roster. He has experience at third base but is likely better suited for first base or DH at this stage in his career. The Giants had plenty of coverage at all three positions and have since added Matt Chapman to the mix.

Nevertheless, it was a fun idea and a great morale boost for the players in the organization. Sandoval quickly connected with the Giants' younger position players like Marco Luciano, Ismael Munguia, and Luis Matos. Whether he is on the field or not, Sandoval still has a lot to offer the game.

The lefty bat did not put up strong enough numbers to win a roster spot out of camp. He did get off to a slow and and finished on a very high note. Overall, he tallied seven hits in 28 at-bats with three RBI.

Tuesday night's spring training finale was recognized as a final sendoff for the Giants legend. Sandoval did not disappoint. He laced a broken-bat single into right field in the ninth inning. The crowd was exuberant that he was able to end his night on a high note. Donovan Walton replaced Sandoval as the pinch runner, giving the three-time World Series champion a chance to walk off to one more ovation.

Where Sandoval goes from here is anyone's guess. He relayed that he wants to continue his playing career. There should be a roster spot for a veteran mentor and there is a good chance that he can still contribute in the batter's box. The good news is that Sandoval does not appear ready to hang up his spikes just yet.