There is always something of a fear that some professional athletes will grow complacent after signing an expensive long-term deal. Few actually admit that it’s the case, but Pablo Sandoval readily did so.
The Red Sox third baseman, who signed a five-year, $95 million deal after the 2014 season, admitted that his two bad years in Boston are largely down to complacency after achieving so much.
“My career had fallen into an abyss because I was so complacent with things that I had already accomplished,” Sandoval told ESPN’s Marly Rivera. “I did not work hard in order to achieve more and to remain at the level of the player that I am and that I can be.”
Sandoval admitted that the shoulder surgery he underwent in May that ended his season gave him the chance to step back and take stock of what was happening to his career.
“Things definitely happen for a reason,” Sandoval said. “[The surgery and rehab process] have helped revitalize that fire in me to win again.”
Sandoval knows that he’s basically starting from square one, with his previous accomplishments meaning little to Boston fans who have watched him fail to perform while making superstar money for two years.
“I am not taking anything for granted,” Sandoval said. “I am here to work hard. I’m not thinking about the position or not. I am starting from scratch, and I am here to show what I can do on the field.”
Actions speak louder than words, and at least in terms of his fitness, Sandoval is backing up what he says. Even if he can get back to being a solid everyday player, that would be a win for the Red Sox.
