SAN FRANCISCO — Pandas aren’t supposed to migrate with this kind of regularity, but convention has never really applied to Pablo Sandoval.
It is no secret Sandoval, the Giants’ jack of all trades who is enjoying a resurgent season, has a desire to play all nine positions. He has even lobbied to manage a game. After all, he has already knocked off the rarest combination of them all: playing both pitcher and catcher. His pitching career launched April 28 in a 15-6 loss to the Dodgers. He produced a perfect 11-pitch inning.
So, why stop there?
“I’d be glad to do it,” Bruce Bochy said about Sandoval playing every position. “I have talked about it with him. He is the perfect player (for it). Of course, he would want to do it. There’s really not a position he’s going to be a little skeptical of playing because he has pitched and caught.”
The nomadic Sandoval has played four different positions this season: third base, first base, second base, and pitcher. He has 14 career games at catcher, the last coming in 2009. He has never played shortstop or any of the outfield positions, leaving four of the nine boxes unchecked.
Sandoval has played 995 of his 1,103 career games at third base. He has played 90 at first base and just three at second base.
“From day one when he came up here, the thing that he has always had, he may not be a fast runner but he has had quickness,” Bochy said. “A hard hit ball that’s to his left or right, I think he’s as quick as anybody at reacting to it, and that’s what he’s good at.”
Unique circumstances have not called for Bochy to summon Sandoval to the outfield just yet. The consistent attrition the Giants have suffered due to injuries this season has affected the infield more than the outfield. The Giants have plenty of outfield options, and considering Gorkys Hernandez’s emergence, Sandoval’s outfield debut only appears likely if Bochy is feeling generous — or extra faithful.
“Outfield is the one I am going to be skeptical about,” Bochy said. “But for an inning, you can say enough prayer and hope to get you through.”
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