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Juan Sandoval poses for a portrait during photo day at American Family Fields of Phoenix on February 20, 2026.<\/p>\n
For most players, the road to Major League Baseball is defined by performance. For Juan Sandoval<\/a>, it was defined by survival, resilience, and a refusal to let one moment end everything.<\/p>\n Now 45, Sandoval is preparing for his first season as an assistant pitching coach with the Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> \u2013\u00a0a milestone that comes nearly two decades after his playing career was nearly cut short in an instant.<\/p>\n The Moment That Changed Everything<\/p>\n Sandoval\u2019s early career followed a familiar trajectory. A promising right-handed pitching prospect in the Seattle Mariners<\/a>\u00a0organization, 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.<\/p>\n Then, everything changed in a matter of seconds.<\/p>\n According to MLB.com<\/a>, while he was at a restaurant in his hometown of Bonao in the Dominican Republic with his fianc\u00e9e Elisa, Sandoval found himself caught in a sudden, violent incident. A gunshot fired into the floor sent pellets flying \u2013 three of which struck his right eye.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt felt like the ceiling was falling down on me,\u201d Sandoval said.<\/p>\n Finding Hope in the Impossible<\/p>\n In the aftermath, Sandoval searched for a reason to keep going, and found it in one name: Jim Abbott<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>. For Sandoval, that example changed everything.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he was able to do it,\u201d Sandoval thought, \u201cI should be able to do it, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Determined to control his own future, Sandoval made a decision: no one else would decide when his career ended. Only he would.<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 like counting the rhythm of the ball\u2019s bounces on bunts and comebackers.<\/p>\n But he adapted.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Over the next decade, Sandoval built a remarkable professional resume. He pitched across multiple organizations, including stints with the Brewers, Phillies<\/a>, and Rays<\/a> systems, and continued playing internationally in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.<\/p>\n In total, he appeared in 962 games over 17 professional seasons<\/a> \u2013\u00a0a testament to perseverance more than anything else.<\/p>\n A Different Kind of Major League Dream<\/p>\n Sandoval never reached the Major Leagues as a player. But in a way, his journey still led him there.<\/p>\n After retiring, he transitioned into coaching, joining the Brewers organization in 2022 in the Dominican Summer League. His curiosity and drive quickly stood out<\/a>, earning him promotions to assistant Minor League pitching coordinator and now assistant pitching coach at the Major League level.<\/p>\n Those who\u2019ve worked with him describe a relentless learner \u2013 someone who asks questions constantly and refuses to settle.<\/p>\n For Sandoval, coaching is more than a job. It\u2019s a purpose.<\/p>\n \u201cI need to give something back,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is my way to touch people\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n