Juan Sandoval, who is blind in his right eye, is one of many pitchers vying for a major-league roster spot in training camp for the Tampa Bay Rays. Sandoval was in the wrong place at the wrong time in 2006, according to media reports, when a disgruntled restaraunt patron was thrown out and returned with a shotgun. He opened fire, and three buckshot pellets entered Sandoval's eye, causing permanent blindness. He endured seven hours of surgery to save his eyeball.
Sandoval is 32 years old with less than stellar statistics who has been cut three times already by the Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers, and he's been playing in Mexico for the past two years. From 2002 to 2010 he only posted an ERA under 4.00 twice, and often it hovered around 5.00. He began turning things around in Mexican leagues that, according to baseball-reference.com, are the equivalent of Triple-A ball. In 27 games for Quintana Roo, Sandoval had a 2.48 ERA in just over 32 innings. Last year, he went 7-3 while posting a 2.97 ERA with 57 strikeouts and only 27 walks.
Sandoval grew up in Bonao, Dominican Republic, the same town Rays reliever Joel Peralta hails from. Peralta noticed Sandoval's fastball was reaching 94 miles per hour and was generating lots of grounders with a vicious sinker, according to Yahoo!. Peralta quickly recommended that Rays general manager take a look at Sandoval, and when Friedman said he would send a scout Peralta forwarded emails of Sandoval pitching to make things convenient.
He was inked to a minor-league deal and since arriving in camp has shown he's very capable. "I'm betting this: The fact that he has limited vision is why he hasn't been signed," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Because when you look at body, arm stroke, results the last couple years, he should've been signed now. Somebody would've given him a chance if he had two fine eyes."
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