How a Pueblo native helped the Texas Rangers win a World Series
We all grow up in life with aspirations of making it big someday.
Whether that dream is to perform on stage or make it as an actor, actress, musician or artist, we all have had a dream of making it to the “big show."
Pueblo native Albert Sandoval lived out his dream when he made it to the MLB — not as a player, but as a coach. His hard work and dedication paid off when his team made and won the World Series this year.
More: CSUP thankful for two more home wins for both men's and women's basketball teams
His upbringing in Pueblo helped mold his future work ethic. An alumnus of Pueblo East High School, Sandoval went on to play college baseball but quickly realized that his skill set was not going to be good enough to take him to the big leagues.
After finishing his career at CSU Pueblo, he took a chance at a then-growing job — strength and conditioning.
“I hate to say it, but I was kind of more or less a 'Rudy' figure,” Sandoval said. “I was good, but I was never outstanding, or great. Guys liked having me around because I worked my tail off and I made the team better by what I brought to the table, maybe not necessarily by what I brought in between the lines.”
With the writing on the wall, Sandoval took an opportunity and a chance to make it to the majors as a coach. Strength and conditioning were starting to evolve in the world of sports, particularly with baseball.
He landed an interview with the Colorado Rockies for his first job ever out of college where he then became a part-time strength and conditioning coach for their minor league system.
After a few years, Sandoval got a chance to move into a full-time position with the Los Angeles Angels. He spent several years with the Angels, growing as a person and coach, before the business side of baseball caught up to him — he was not offered a new contract after a new general manager was hired.
More: Recognize these names? See which Pueblo area student athletes signed letters of intent
“I was kind of in limbo,” Sandoval said. “I made relationships with the guys over here at the Rangers. They said, 'Hey, look, I have an A-ball position and it's a full-time position. We'll pay you what you're making if you want to come over here.' So, by God's will again, God always provides and takes care of me. And I ended up in Texas.”
After several years of working in the minor leagues with the Rangers, Sandoval was hired by the big club and worked directly with the Rangers. He finally made it to the big leagues.
“My road was very long and I never want any pity from people because everybody goes through stuff,” Sandoval said. “In talking to the baseball team last year, I told them with every obstacle that you encounter, you can either get bitter or you can get better. I was let go for no reason. I mean, this is the reality of the business, but I got better because I ended up here.”
Sandoval went on to help the Rangers win a World Series.
He said if it wasn’t for the way he was raised in Pueblo he has no clue where he could have ended up. Years of hard work and the occasional rejection take a toll on a person — it almost drove Sandoval away from the sport he loved so much.
“There's a lot that you give up,” Sandoval said.
"In the offseason, you're training guys, there's a lot of time, energy, and a lot of sacrifice, not only by myself, but by my family. You wonder, 'Is it worth it?' I had those times. I had that when I got let go. But the support system that I have encouraged me to stick with it, and I did. It's more of a personal sacrifice that you have to decide. When is it time to change your priorities? I don't know if I'm there yet, but I know I'm a lot closer than I was after we won the World Series.
"Definitely, a lot of nights when you're on the road, especially when you're in little towns and little cities, like, 'What am I doing?' But now that I look back on it, it's like everything in life is all about the journey and this opportunity.”
Throughout his career, Sandoval continued to rely on what he learned growing up in Pueblo.
“It goes back to keeping what you want in the future, more important than your wants of today,” Sandoval said. “The values that my parents instilled in me, and Pueblo instilled in me, is if you work hard enough and you do things the right way, eventually things will pay off. I think today's society is instantaneous feedback and results and if things don’t go my way I’m on to the next one. In the long run, that's not sustainable for success.”
More: Pueblo West's Alex Smith looks to change the mentality around football
Sandoval also credited his faith in God as a big reason for his success and accomplishments.
“When I got fired seven years ago from Anaheim, and never knew if I was going to be in baseball again, God put me in a position where, seven years later, not only did I end up with a big-league job, which I always wanted, I ended up with the World Series championship,” Sandoval said. “I grew up in a great family. My grandma helped raise me along with my parents, who were tremendous. They instilled in me a faith in God. When I grew up and I was on my own, I never felt alone. Even when I was in the middle of nowhere on the bus.
"There were a lot of tough times but my faith in God, which began with the values that my parents instilled in me, helped me. I would not be where I'm at today and I would not have achieved the things that I achieved without having my faith in him.”
Christopher Abdelmalek is a sports reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain and can be reached at cabdelmalek@gannett.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @chowebacca. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Albert Sandoval credits Pueblo upbringing for World Series, MLB success
