Former Giants fan-favorite Ryan Vogelsong is back in town for a reunion of the 2012 World Series winning team, taking place on July 8. One of Vogelsong’s teammates in 2012, Pablo Sandoval, was also a fan-favorite during his first stint with the club, before his disastrous exit and tenure with the Boston Red Sox from 2015-17.
But Pablo has returned to the Bay, and is having a bounce-back season as he slowly makes his way back in the the good graces of Giants fans.
He doesn’t need to prove anything to his old teammate Vogelsong, however. Vogey joined Murph & Mac on Friday morning and described the special bond he shares with Sandoval.
“Listen, Pablo is one of my favorite people on this planet, he always will be,” Vogelsong said. “We always had a different kind of bond, and I think it’s because of the journeys I went through in winter ball in Venezuela. So we’ve always been really close and like I said, last year when I was there for my retirement, people were asking me ‘What do you think about him?’ And I’m like ‘Listen, I’m rooting for this guy as hard as anybody, because I love him.’”
Vogelsong spent the winter of 2010-11 playing baseball in Venezuela, Pablo’s home country, as he attempted to make his way back into the major leagues after four seasons away. When he ultimately got the call to return to the Giants, he had a teammate in Sandoval who could relate to his experiences.
“I’m so happy that he’s back there,” Vogelsong said of Pablo being back with the Giants. “I kind of wish he would’ve never left because I think he’s a guy that needs to be in that environment, and I’m just glad to see that he’s doing well and doing good things.
“The guy can play some baseball and he’s athletic. Those two things can go a long way, and a lot of people question his heart, and there’s one thing that I never question about him is his heart. This guy showed up to play, every single day that I was around him for four years.
“I tell him all the time, I say ‘Pablo I know one thing for sure, if I have a baseball team, I’m taking you with me.’ That’s what I think about him. This isn’t a surprise to me at all.”
Listen to the full interview below. To hear Vogelsong on Sandoval, start from 6:35.