The Windy City ThunderBolts announced on Saturday that catcher Joshuan Sandoval has had his contract purchased by the Tampa Bay Rays. Sandoval becomes the first ThunderBolt sold to a Major League organization this year.
Sandoval signed with the ThunderBolts on June 20 after a sterling five-year career at MidAmerica Nazarene University. In a decorated college career, he hit .338 with a 1.111 OPS. He was a four-time All-Conference selection and a first team NAIA All-American as a junior in 2021.
His success quickly carried over to the professional ranks. Sandoval collected three hits in his first two games and in just his fifth professional start, he tied the franchise record with nine RBIs in a game. In that 16-2 win on June 26, he hit grand slams in back-to-back innings.
Overall, in 28 games played with the ThunderBolts, Sandoval hit .286 with four homers and 21 RBIs. He ends his Windy City career with an active seven-game hitting streak.
The catcher will report to a Tampa Bay affiliate, making him the first player in franchise history to be signed by the Rays. He is the 65th player since 1999 to have his contract purchased by a Major League affiliate. Five of those have made it all the way to the big leagues. Sandoval is the fifth player in manager Brian Smith’s tenure to get signed, a list that includes Adam Oller, who currently pitches for the Oakland Athletics.
