Could Pablo Sandoval play for the Boston Red Sox again in 2016?
Maybe, but probably not.
That very definitive answer came from Red Sox manager John Farrell ahead of Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, where Sandoval was present and practicing with the team. The third baseman played in just three games for the Red Sox in 2016 before being shut down for the year with surgery on his non-throwing shoulder.
But Farrell hasn’t ruled out giving Sandoval a chance in the playoffs in case of an emergency.
“You can never forecast injury, you can never forecast what takes place ahead,” Farrell said Saturday, per the Boston Herald. “Nothing has been ruled out with Pablo. Particularly with how he’s responding. He’s well ahead of schedule.”
“We’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves here,” Farrell added. “But at the same time, compliment him for the work that he’s put in.”
In all honesty, a lot of players likely would have to be injured before the Red Sox played someone in the postseason who’s barely seen the field all season. But it is a good sign that Boston is confident enough in his recovery to even entertain that notion.
And Panda, for his part, isn’t trying to rush anything, either.
“I’m just focusing on getting better every single day,” Sandoval said Saturday, per the Herald. “It’s not my decision, those decisions, so the thing I’m focusing on is getting back on the field healthy.”
Thumbnail photo via Nick Turchiaro/USA TODAY Sports Images
