“Panda” went on a much needed diet, and the effects are showing. Sandoval has come out on a tear, leading the team with a .440 average. He also leads the team with a.481 OBP and 11 hits.
Sandoval, like a few Giants, may be playing this season with a chip on his shoulder after he was benched during the playoffs and didn’t contribute much. Sandoval had an average of .268 last season after hitting .330 in his first full major league season.
Pablo only had 17 at-bats during the Giants magical playoff run. He hit a measly .176 during the playoffs and was 0-3 in the World Series.
The Giants let Juan Uribe go to the Dodgers, after they refused to give him a 3-year contract. This meant that the Giants would need Panda to come back slimmer and ready to be a major contributor.
Panda will hold down the fifth hole in the Giants lineup and will need to be huge this year as Buster Posey now has a reputation as a great hitter with good power. Panda has one home run and three RBI in seven games.
Panda without a doubt is the Giants hottest hitter. Pablo has only one extra-base hit out of his 11 hits. Panda hit 13 home runs and had 63 RBIs last season. In his first full season, Sandoval had 25 home runs and 90 RBIs.
If the Giants can get stats out of Panda like his first full season, the Giants will make the playoffs and go far. His defense looks better as he seems more agile now. The 24-year-old Panda is still young. Buster Posey is also 24, and this could create a great middle of the lineup for the Giants for years to come.
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