Who, Exactly, Is Pablo Sandoval? A Look at the San Francisco Giants Prospect

Before the 2008 season, not many people knew who 22-year-old catcher/first baseman Pablo Sandoval was, and rightfully so.

He wasn't putting up ridiculous stats in the minors; he was hitting for a strong average, but that's about it. He wasn't getting much attention from the prospect blogs and publications, so not a lot of fans knew who the heck he was.

He was your basic little-known minor-league player.

However, things certainly clicked when Sandoval showed up at Municipal Stadium for his second season with the San Francisco Giants' High-A affiliate, the San Jose Giants.

The Carabobo, Venezuela native hit and kept hitting. In 68 games with San Jose, he hit .359 with 12 home runs and 57 RBI.

His hot hitting earned him a promotion to Double-A Connecticut, and he did what he now does best: hit the cover off the ball. In 44 games with the Defenders, Sandoval batted .337 with eight homers and 37 RBI.

Between those two stops in the minors, his numbers are as follows: .350 AVG, 20 HR, and 96 RBI in 112 games.

The little-known catcher was now on the top of almost every fan's wish list to see before the season ended.

And that wish came true when the Giants shook up their roster on Aug. 13, calling Sandoval up along with third baseman Ryan Rohlinger and first baseman Travis Ishikawa.

While Rohlinger and Ishikawa have struggled since being brought to the majors, Sandoval has looked like he's been settled in for months. In five games since his callup Aug. 14, he is 8-for-16 with two doubles, one walk, just one strikeout, and two RBI. Now, that's nothing to go completely insane about, but there is reason for excitement and visions of what's to come in the future.

For years, the Giants have always had the pitching come through the minor league system, but never any hitters. However, 2008 has seen the Giants actually show they have talent other than on the mound.

Although it remains to be seen whether Sandoval will remain behind the plate due to Buster Posey and his record-setting $6.15 million signing bonus, he is here to stay and he is ready to take advantage of his opportunity.

He has the ability to learn from current catcher and former Gold Glove-winner Bengie Molina, who might as well be an exact body clone of Sandoval, with both of them being some of the heftiest catchers in the majors.

Sandoval has been quoted in published reports saying that Molina is treating him like a son since he arrived in San Francisco, and, for a kid who has risen quickly through the system in 2008, that might be the best thing to happen to him in year a full of accomplishments.