After Getting Busted For Being On Instagram During A Game, This Latino Pelotero Showed Up Out Of Shape

Omar Villegas - 03/31/16 - #mitúWORLD

This is Pablo Sandoval. He’s a third baseman for the Boston Red Sox.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCV_iPetCJ7/

Credit: kfp48 / YouTube

He looks happy, right? Well, the Red Sox aren’t happy. Sandoval entered spring training looking like this:

Credit: @Jared_Carrabis / Twitter

Yeah, not exactly the best look for a professional baseball player.

 giphy

Credit: Roc A Fella / Lipstick Alley

Sandoval, a 29-year-old pelotero from Venezuela, has battled with his weight for several seasons. It’s no coincidence that his nickname is the Kung-Fu Panda.

#Repost @redsox with @repostapp.
・・・
What up ? @kfp48 #SoxSpring They welcome ? In is new home

A photo posted by Pablo Sandoval (@kfp48) on

 

Credit: @kfp48 / Instagram

So why are the Red Sox mad? Before the start of the 2015 season, they signed Sandoval a five-year, $95 million contract.

Credit: @kfp48 / Instagram

That’s a lot of money to pay a guy who can’t quite get in shape.

Why the huge contract? Despite his weight issues, Sandoval was an All-Star caliber player for his former team, the San Francisco Giants.

https://www.instagram.com/p/XIslwVNCKh

Credit: @kfp48 / Instagram

But in his first season with the Red Sox, Sandoval didn’t perform as well as he did with the Giants, posting career lows in several categories.

Credit: @kfp48 / Instagram

It wasn’t just Sandoval’s hitting that suffered. He also committed the second-most errors (15) in his career.

And he got busted for using Instagram during a game. Seriously.

Credit: @Jared_Carrabis / Twitter

Sandoval admitted to using Instagram and was benched for his transgression.

Things got so bad that Red Sox fans were asking the Giants to take Sandoval back.

"As a @RedSox fan, will you please take back Pablo?" BOOOO!!! #SFGFanFest #SFGFest

A video posted by J.Lynn Johnston (@jlynnjohnston) on

Credit: jlynnjohnston / Instagram

That’s a Red Sox fan asking San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy for a refund.

Well, after Sandoval made it clear he’s not watching his weight, the Red Sox announced that Sandoval is being demoted.

Credit: @PeteAbe / Twitter

Sandoval told ESPN that he wasn’t watching his weight because he didn’t think he had to: “I don’t weigh. I don’t weigh in at all. I just do my work, try to do everything I can out there. I don’t weigh at all in the whole offseason. I just try to get better, be in a better position and, like I say, be an athlete.”

Upon hearing the news, several people began poking fun at Sandoval for being a well-paid benchwarmer.

Credit: @MatthewStucko / Twitter

This is how much Sandoval will make the next four season, even if he continues to ride the bench.

Credit: @barrysvrluga / Twitter

Of course, there were plenty of digs about his weight.

Credit: @NOTMLBTonight / Twitter

Sandoval also told radio station WEII he was happy with the decision.

That's a home run swing! ? #SoxSpring

A photo posted by VOTE #SOXASG (@redsox) on

Credit: @redsox / Instagram

“We talked about it. I’m happy with the decision. They made the decision. It’s the right decision to help the team win. I’m going to be happy. I’m going to be ready on the bench, get ready for anything. I’m going to get ready during the season to do my job.”

READ: This Is Why Baseball Player Alex Torres Wears A Funny-Looking Cap

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