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Juan SandovalAmerican baseball player of Dominican descent
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Juan Sandoval: A Biography
- The Incident
- A Second Chance
- Determination and Rehabilitation
- A Return to the Field
- Conclusion
Juan Sandoval: A Biography
IntroductionJuan Sandoval is a Dominican-American baseball player and pitcher with partial vision loss. Despite losing his right eye about seven years ago due to a gunshot wound, Sandoval continues to play for the Tampa Bay Rays, a professional baseball team in the Major League Baseball (MLB). Only a few teammates know how he lost his vision, as they likely do not want to bring up painful memories for Sandoval.
The Incident
Sandoval will never forget February 4, 2006, when an aggressive drunk returned to a restaurant with a shotgun, resulting in chaos and fear. Three pellets struck Sandoval's right eye, plunging his world into darkness. Fortunately, his left eye still has excellent vision, even better than before, as he has had to see for both eyes.
A Second Chance
The story of how Juan Sandoval became a player for the Tampa Bay Rays despite his partial vision loss is not a publicity stunt. It is the story of a baseball player who received his last chance to fulfill his destiny, which he had believed in since birth - to play in the Major League, even if he achieved it for the first time at the age of 32. Sandoval does not wear a sign with information about his condition, so it is normal for people not to know.
Determination and Rehabilitation
Sandoval thinks of himself simply as one of the fifty or so players on the team. He is an ordinary person, an ordinary athlete, and the coaches do not make any concessions or impose any limitations on him. Over the past two years, Sandoval had repeatedly tried to save his sports career, but teams turned him down one after another. Despite his right hand being more critical than his right eye, disability seemed to follow him everywhere. After the injury, Sandoval underwent a seven-hour surgery and managed to keep his eyeball. He was confident that after a long rehabilitation, he would be able to see with his right eye again. However, doctors had to disappoint him, leaving him feeling bitter, angry, sad, and anxious.
A Return to the Field
Nevertheless, Sandoval did not give up. He had to relearn catching the ball and many other things that had seemed like mundane routines before the injury. These skills allowed him to return to the field through ups and downs, and eventually, he attended a winter ball where he met Joel Peralta, a pitcher for the Rays. Peralta, who has vast experience in the game and a keen eye for talent, called the Rays' general manager, Andrew Friedman, and asked him to watch Sandoval, sending him some recordings of his gameplay. This was enough for Friedman to offer Sandoval a contract, which he signed on January 9, a few weeks after his wife, Elisa Tejada, a doctor by profession, gave birth to their twin boys.
Conclusion
Finally, luck smiled upon Sandoval. He is now living his dream of playing in the Major League, proving that his partial vision loss does not define him as a player. Sandoval's story is one of resilience, determination, and the power of second chances. Despite facing adversity, he continues to overcome obstacles and inspire others with his remarkable journey in the world of baseball.
