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Juan Sandoval poses for a portrait during photo day at American Family Fields of Phoenix on February 20, 2026.
For most players, the road to Major League Baseball is defined by performance. For Juan Sandoval, it was defined by survival, resilience, and a refusal to let one moment end everything.
Now 45, Sandoval is preparing for his first season as an assistant pitching coach with the Milwaukee Brewers – a milestone that comes nearly two decades after his playing career was nearly cut short in an instant.
The Moment That Changed Everything
Sandoval’s early career followed a familiar trajectory. A promising right-handed pitching prospect in the Seattle Mariners organization, he steadily climbed the minor league ladder from Rookie ball to Double-A. By 2006, Triple-A, and eventually the Major Leagues, felt within reach.
Then, everything changed in a matter of seconds.
According to MLB.com, while he was at a restaurant in his hometown of Bonao in the Dominican Republic with his fiancée Elisa, Sandoval found himself caught in a sudden, violent incident. A gunshot fired into the floor sent pellets flying – three of which struck his right eye.
He underwent eight hours of surgery. Doctors were able to save the eye physically, but not his vision. Months later, he learned the truth: he would never see out of that eye again.
“It felt like the ceiling was falling down on me,” Sandoval said.
Finding Hope in the Impossible
In the aftermath, Sandoval searched for a reason to keep going, and found it in one name: Jim Abbott.
Abbott, born without a right hand, had carved out a remarkable 10-year Major League career, even throwing a no-hitter with the New York Yankees. For Sandoval, that example changed everything.
“If he was able to do it,” Sandoval thought, “I should be able to do it, too.”
Determined to control his own future, Sandoval made a decision: no one else would decide when his career ended. Only he would.
Pitching with one eye meant relearning depth perception, adjusting mechanics, and overcoming the constant uncertainty that comes with limited vision. Fielding his position became especially difficult, forcing Sandoval to develop creative solutions – like counting the rhythm of the ball’s bounces on bunts and comebackers.
But he adapted.
In 2007, just a year after the injury, Sandoval returned to the mound. Not only did he come back; he thrived. He made 40 appearances and reached Triple-A Tacoma, proving his career was far from over.
Over the next decade, Sandoval built a remarkable professional resume. He pitched across multiple organizations, including stints with the Brewers, Phillies, and Rays systems, and continued playing internationally in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.
In total, he appeared in 962 games over 17 professional seasons – a testament to perseverance more than anything else.
A Different Kind of Major League Dream
Sandoval never reached the Major Leagues as a player. But in a way, his journey still led him there.
After retiring, he transitioned into coaching, joining the Brewers organization in 2022 in the Dominican Summer League. His curiosity and drive quickly stood out, earning him promotions to assistant Minor League pitching coordinator and now assistant pitching coach at the Major League level.
Those who’ve worked with him describe a relentless learner – someone who asks questions constantly and refuses to settle.
For Sandoval, coaching is more than a job. It’s a purpose.
“I need to give something back,” he said. “This is my way to touch people’s lives.”
His story resonates deeply with players, especially those facing adversity. When asked about his eye, he doesn’t shy away, because the lesson is the point.
Sandoval’s journey is about more than wins, losses, or statistics. It’s about perspective.
“This game teaches you how to find the best version of you,” he said. “To not give up. To find different ways to be successful.”
Today, standing in a Major League dugout, Sandoval has reached the destination he once dreamed of – even if the path looked nothing like he imagined.
“It has been a long journey for me,” he said. “And here I am.”