Giants’ Pablo Sandoval needs reconstructive surgery on elbow

OAKLAND — For the second straight year, Pablo Sandoval will end his season on the injured list.

The team announced Saturday that Sandoval will undergo reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. That was the recommendation from Neal ElAttrache, the Los Angeles-based doctor who examined Sandoval on Wednesday.

Sandoval, 33, was placed on the 10-day injured list Aug. 14 after his elbow did not improve following a cortisone shot he received Aug 11. The switch-hitting infielder has dealt with bone chips in his elbow since 2013, but the injury had never kept Sandoval off the field for an extended period of time.

It’s possible Sandoval has played his final game with the San Francisco Giants as the infielder is set to become a free agent at the end of the year. Sandoval will likely have interest in re-signing with the Giants this offseason, but it’s unclear how president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi feels about extending Sandoval’s tenure in San Francisco.

Sandoval hit .269 with 14 home runs and an .823 OPS this year while also tying the franchise record for most pinch hits (18) in a single season.

The Venezuela native is one of manager Bruce Bochy’s favorite players and has spoken at length about the support and guidance Bochy has provided him throughout his career.

After debuting with the Giants in 2008 and spending the first seven seasons of his career with the franchise, Sandoval left in free agency following the 2014 World Series to sign a five-year, $95 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. Sandoval made several disparaging remarks about the Giants after signing with the Red Sox, but that didn’t prevent an unlikely reunion that took place in July, 2017.

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Here’s how the SF Giants can clinch a playoff spot (and what teams can help them do it) The Red Sox designated Sandoval for assignment with more than $45 million remaining on his contract, allowing the Giants to sign Sandoval and pay him the major league minimum through the 2019 season.

Since returning to San Francisco, Sandoval has donated the portion of the salary he’s earned from the club to the Giants Community Fund.

Last season, Sandoval tore his hamstring during the first week of August and missed the remainder of the regular season. For much of spring training, it was unclear if Sandoval would earn a spot on the Giants’ Opening Day roster, but an impressive resurgence as a right-handed hitter and a willingness to accept a part-time role made him a more valuable utility player.

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