Top 5: AL East Third Basemen of 2015

Sep 20, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) gets to first on a fielding error by Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Brett Cecil (not pictured) in the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Boston defeated Toronto 4-3. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

5) Pablo Sandoval – Boston Red Sox

Bio: 29 y/o, 5’11″, 255 lbs, bats left, & throws right

MLB Years: 8

Games Played in 2015: 126 (123 as 3B)

Offense:

• .245 batting average
• .292 on-base percentage
• .366 slugging percentage
• 10 home runs & 47 RBIs
• 25 walks to 73 strikeouts

Defense:

• 2.26 range factor
• .948 fielding percentage
• 15 errors, 200 assists, & 78 putouts

‘It’ Factor: Slow But Not Steady

Sandoval was dead last in every offensive category. Considering that his physique never gave anyone in Red Sox Nation much hope that the ‘Kung Fu Panda’ would be an incredible defensive specialist, the offensive dud of a season seriously cramped the fans’ style.

If the numbers didn’t say enough to prove his spot in this ranking, there was one incident that symbolized how hard it was for the Fenway faithful to watch the Red Sox, this season. While running from first base to home plate, Sandoval seemed to run out of gas and was stopped by the opposing catcher. Later on, Sandoval left the game for what was claimed by manager John Farrell as dehydration. Whether it was true or he was just too out of shape to continue, Sandoval didn’t take care of himself well enough to be an important factor in the Red Sox lineup or on the field. For $95 million, the average person would want to keep himself in good enough shape to at least try to be there for his team. Instead, the team didn’t even let him finish playing the rest of the season in late September.