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Giants' Sandoval to undergo Tommy John surgery

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

San Francisco Giants infielder Pablo Sandoval will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, the team announced Saturday.

The Giants placed Sandoval on the injured list with right elbow inflammation Aug. 11. Although the team initially believed that his UCL wasn't damaged, Sandoval flew to Los Angeles this week to be examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who recommended that he undergo the surgery. It'll be performed during the first week of September.

Given the timing, it's quite possible that Sandoval - a pending free agent - could miss the entire 2020 season. However, Giants trainer Dave Groeschner said he believes Sandoval will be able to come back at some point next year, according to Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group.

Groeschner added that the Giants will help him rehab even after he becomes a free agent.

Manager Bruce Bochy told reporters he'd "love to" give Sandoval one more home at-bat at Oracle Park before the surgery, depending on the condition of his elbow, according to Crowley.

The news provides a bitter end to what was Sandoval's best season in years. He'd emerged as an important bench piece for Bochy this season, slashing .269/.314/.509 with 14 homers, 23 doubles, and 41 RBIs in 107 games as both a third and first baseman.

Sandoval also suffered a season-ending injury in 2018 after he tore his hamstring last August.

The 33-year-old is beloved in San Francisco for his role on the Giants' three championship clubs this decade, including his World Series MVP-winning performance in 2012. He left the team in 2015 to sign a five-year, $95-million deal with the Boston Red Sox but returned to San Francisco barely two years later after being released.

Sandoval expressed disappointment that he won't get to suit up during the final games of Bochy's managerial career and added that, if possible, he'd like to make his post-surgery comeback with the Giants.

"This is not the end of my career," he said, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.

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