Slimmer Pablo Sandoval Starts Defensive Drills
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP/CBS) — Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval has started doing defensive drills as part of his rehab program following season-ending left shoulder surgery in May.
Sandoval joined his teammates for Wednesday night's game at Tampa Bay, taking pregame grounders at third and making throws to first and second base.
"I feel a lot better," said Sandoval, who has been working out six days a week at the Red Sox spring training complex in Fort Myers. "It's not back to normal, but feeling a lot better. I'm happy to be back here with my teammates. Happy to start doing work."
He has not been cleared to start hitting. Sandoval is expected to be ready for spring training next year.
Earlier this season, an unnamed Giants official ripped Sandoval's eating habits during his time in San Francisco. Sandoval did not directly answer questions about those comments, but said he's learned from his mistakes of the past.
"It's tough, but you learn your lesson from all the mistakes you make," he told The Boston Herald. "You're human, you make mistakes. You have to put all the things in the past. So you have to work out and have good people around you to support you every single day. I've got that situation already, with my family around to support me every single day."
Reporters who spoke with Sandoval on Wednesday in St. Petersburg said the third baseman appears to have lost weight.
The 30-year-old Sandoval played just three games in his second season with Boston. He is signed through the 2019 season (earning $17 million in 2017 and $18 million in both 2018 and 2019), with Boston owning a club option for $17 million in 2020.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
