Pablo Sandoval

Sandoval (born August 11, 1986, in Puerto Cabello, Carabobo, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball player for the San Francisco Giants. Minor leagues
Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2002, Sandoval began his professional career as a catcher in 2004 with the AZL Giants, hitting .266 with no home runs and 26 RBIs in 177 at bats.
In 2005, he was used almost entirely as a third baseman while playing for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.He had one home run and 49 RBIs with the Augusta GreenJackets that year, splitting time between first and third base. In 2007, he played for the San Jose Giants, hitting .287 with 11 homers and 52 RBIs.That season, he was used as a catcher/first baseman.
In 2008, he spent time with two minor league teams, the Single-A San Jose Giants and the Double-A Connecticut Defenders, before being called up to the majors. In 273 at bats for San Jose, he hit .359 with 12 home runs and 59 RBIs.In total, he hit .350 with 20 home runs and 96 RBIs, through August 13, 2008.
Major leagues
Sandoval was called up to the majors on August 13, 2008, and went 0 for 3 with an RBI in his first game. In 145 at bats, he batted .345 while striking out only 14 times.
In 2009, the Giants are using him primarily as a starting third baseman, as well as a catcher for pitcher Barry Zito, who gave Sandoval his nickname: "Kung Fu Panda". In spring training in 2009, he batted .457, leading all batters with 80 or more at bats.
Sandoval has a distinctive and spiritual pre-at bat ritual he uses to honor members of his family.