Pablo Sandoval's weight is no longer a laughing matter. The popular third baseman hit rock bottom this past season, but with the Red Sox betting on a resurgence for 2017, "Kung Fu Panda" says he's ready to make the most of the second chance.
Sandoval showed up to spring training with a big gut (again) and his performance on the field suffered, resulting in a benching before a shoulder injury forced him to miss most of the season.
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Looking back, Sandoval admits he got "complacent" after signing a five-year, $95 million contract with the Red Sox in 2014 and has vowed to start his career all over again now that he is fully recovered from left shoulder surgery.
"My career had fallen into an abyss because I was so complacent with things that I had already accomplished," Sandoval told ESPN on Thursday. "I did not work hard in order to achieve more and to remain at the level of the player that I am and that I can be."
Sandoval is a two-time All-Star, a three-time champion and the 2012 World Series MVP. With Travis Shaw traded to the Brewers, Sandoval once again has his chance to win the third-base job in spring training.
"Things definitely happen for a reason," Sandoval said. "[The surgery and rehab process] have helped revitalize that fire in me to win again.
"I am not taking anything for granted; I am here to work hard. I'm not thinking about the position or not. I am starting from scratch, and I am here to show what I can do on the field."
The Red Sox are also betting on Sandoval's left-handed bat to replace David Ortiz's swing in a predominantly right-handed Boston lineup, not to mention his .344/.389/.545 slash line in 39 postseason games, with six home runs.
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Sandoval has shed "significant" weight over the past few months, Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said recently. While he apparently has won over the front office, Sandoval hopes to win over the fans with his play.
"I certainly get it. I understand all the frustration [fans] must have felt, and I can't hold any grudges," Sandoval said. "I have no ill will about anything. Actually the opposite. It was another lesson for me. It fueled me. It gave me the courage to work harder every day so one day I can be a part of another Boston Red Sox championship."