Michael Sandoval

Michael Emilio Sandoval

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 200 lb.

• Born July 8, 1981 in Puerto Cabello, Carabobo Venezuela

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Michael Sandoval has played as high as A ball in the minors. He is the brother of Pablo Sandoval.

Michael debuted in 1998 with the Montalban club in the Venezuelan Summer League, hitting .296. In '99, he batted .320/.369/.418 for the GCL Twins; he tied Tommy Watkins for the club lead with 30 runs, led the team's regulars in average, led in RBI (34), led in doubles (13) and tied for the most triples (3); one negative was a 5-for-12 performance in base stealing. Another was 19 errors, most by a Gulf Coast League third baseman. Sandovaal was 5th in the GCL in batting average. He lost All-Star honors at third base to Hank Blalock, who won 2 of the 3 legs of the Triple Crown.

Sandoval split 2000 between the Elizabethton Twins (.268/.376/.403 in 42 G) and the GCL Twins (.302/.429/.429 in 17 G). In '01, the Venezuelan infielder hit .222/.278/.381 for the Quad City River Bandits, now backing up Terry Tiffee at third base.

By 2002, Sandoval was a regular again, producing at a .260/.343/.384 rate for Quad City. His 23 doubles tied Jake Mauer for second on the club behind Jason Kubel and his 64 runs led the team. He fielded just .899 at the hot corner. His 18 times hit by pitch led the Midwest League.

In 2003, Michael batted .294/.385/.373 for the Fort Myers Miracle and improved his fielding percentage at third to .924. Had he qualified, he would have been 6th in the Florida State League in average. Sandoval began 2004 with Fort Myers but only eked out a .179/.284/.353 line in 49 games and was released.

Signing with the Brockton Rox, Sandoval batted .229/.312/.386 for the remainder of 2004.

Sandoval hit .270/.364/.514 in the 2006 COPABE Olympic qualifiers with 6 doubles and 12 RBI in 9 games. He easily led Venezuela in RBI and tied Yulieski Gourriel for second in the event, one behind Alexander Mayeta. In the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games, Michael batted .360/.448/.480, leading Venezuela's starters in average.

Sandoval batted .273/.448/.364 for Venezuela in the 2008 Americas Baseball Cup, helping them win a spot in the 2009 Baseball World Cup.

For the 2009 Newark Bears, Michael hit .291/.375/.417, outperforming former major leaguers Jay Gibbons and Alberto Castillo.