Jared Lawrence Sandberg (born March 2, 1978) is an American professional baseball coach and former Major League Baseball (MLB) third baseman. He played his entire MLB career with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2001–2003) and has subsequently held various coaching and managerial positions within the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners organizations.
Early life and education
Born in Olympia, Washington, Sandberg attended Capital High School in his hometown. He was selected in the 16th round of the 1996 MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, beginning a 12‑year playing career in professional baseball.
Playing career
Sandberg made his MLB debut on August 7, 2001. Over three seasons (2001–2003) he appeared in 196 games, all with the Devil Rays, compiling a .221 batting average, 25 home runs, and 92 runs batted in. Notable moments include hitting two home runs in a single inning on June 11, 2002—the first player in Devil Rays history to do so. After his MLB tenure, he spent time in minor‑league systems for the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians, and Kansas City Royals before retiring as a player following the 2007 season.
Coaching and managerial career
Following retirement, Sandberg transitioned to coaching, beginning as a hitting coach for the Single‑A Hudson Valley Renegades (Rays organization) in 2008. He progressed to managerial roles, leading the Rookie‑level Princeton Rays (2009), Single‑A Bowling Green Hot Rods (2013), High‑A Charlotte Stone Crabs, and Triple‑A Durham Bulls, where he guided the team to consecutive International League Governors’ Cup championships in 2017 and 2018.
In 2019, Sandberg joined the Seattle Mariners as a major‑league field coordinator, serving on their coaching staff through the 2021 season. He returned to the Rays organization in 2022 as the outfield and baserunning coordinator and managed the Triple‑A El Paso Chihuahuas for the 2022 season.
Personal life
Sandberg is listed at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and 185 lb (84 kg). He bats and throws right‑handed.
Legacy
Sandberg is recognized for his contributions both as a power‑hitting infielder during his brief MLB career and for his extensive experience developing players at the minor‑league level, highlighted by multiple championship titles as a manager.