Red Sox: Pablo Sandoval is quietly having a great spring

A few weeks into Spring Training, Pablo Sandoval has quietly gone about his business – earning the starting position at third for the Boston Red Sox.

Credit where credit is due, Pablo Sandoval has gone out and done exactly what he’s needed to through the Red Sox’ first thirteen spring games. More importantly, he’s done it almost invisibly.

More than a month ago, the biggest storyline around the Red Sox was Sandoval and the question mark at third. I even went so far as to say that 2017 would be a make or break season for his career. All that anyone could talk about was what to expect out of the hot corner. Well, the man that has existed under microscopic scrutiny since signing his 5-year, $95 million contract has largely flown under the radar since arriving in Fort Myers.

Other stories have distracted from Sandoval; David Price‘s elbow, Hanley Ramirez‘s shoulder, Andrew Benintendi‘s dominance, and Chris Sale‘s debut have been mainstays in the news cycle. But if Sandoval were to give us anything to talk about, it would be the biggest storyline in Red Sox camp if not all of Major League Baseball.

We should be thankful that he hasn’t.

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For the first time in his Red Sox career, Sandoval has acted like a professional. His weight loss, dieting, and conditioning have paid off. Instead of flaunting his pride and past accolades, he’s put his head down and gone to work. At this time last year, he was arguing with beat writers on the path to losing his job. This time around, he’s letting his play do the talking.

In seven spring games, Sandoval is hitting .333 with four runs batted in and two doubles. His seven hits are tied for fourth on the team behind Deven Marrero (10), Mookie Betts (8), and Benintendi (8).

On defense, he’s looked remarkably better. No longer hindered by a protruding gut, he’s regained the first step he had with the Giants. He even ranged across the diamond to barehand a grounder and make a running throw in Saturday’s game against the Pirates. I’m not saying he’s going to be a gold glove third baseman, but at the very least, he’ll be serviceable.

Considering the changes he’s made, it’s no surprise that Boston Herald’s Michael Silverman has declared him the team’s starting third baseman early in Spring Training.

It’s obviously not Silverman’s declaration to make, but he isn’t wrong. Regardless of how long John Farrell waits to make a formal announcement – if he ever does – Sandoval will be the team’s starting third baseman.

We went into camp with the false pretense that other players – namely Brock Holt and Josh Rutledge – would be competing for the position as well. They were not.

Holt only provides value as a super-utility, capable of playing well at any of the infield and outfield positions. His versatility keeps others fresh and is a premier insurance policy in case of injury. His career .705 OPS and 91 OPS+ aren’t the stats of a starting third baseman, though.

Rutledge is in a similar position. A Rule-5 Draft pick from the Rockies, he’s competing for the 25th spot on the roster otherwise, he’s headed back to Colorado. As a right-handed hitter, he provides some balance with Holt’s left-handed bat on the bench which could prove valuable.

So if there isn’t any competition and Sandoval has proven that he’s ready to contribute, what’s left to prove?

Spring Training is still just the first step in his long road to reclamation. Fans won’t forget his performance in 2015 or the lost season of 2016. He’s still the same player that has been paid roughly $34 million to provide -1.1 bWAR over the past two years. If he keeps hitting .333 in spring but struggles to break the Mendoza line in April, we all know which stat will be the focal point.

Next: David Price is more than just a baseball player

What we do know, is that Spring Training has gone about as well as it could for him thus far. He’s looked athletic, confident, and most of all motivated.

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