Published: January 09, 2009 12:21 am      

Sandberg excited about his return to Princeton

Former P-Rays player now the manager

Jared Sandberg admits to being a “baseball lifer.” He just always envisioned his playing career lasting longer than it did.

“I grew up on the baseball fields in the summertime,” he said. “Baseball was my education; I didn’t go to college. I was a big leaguer at age 24, and like all big leaguers I dreamed of staying there 15 to 20 years.”

Unfortunately, Sandberg’s days as a player ended after the 2007 season. But, true to his own assessment, baseball is still very much a part of Sandberg’s life.

The 30-year-old Olympia, Wash., native last month was named the new manager of the Princeton Rays. While not his first coaching job, Sandberg will make his managerial debut in June.

Sandberg is no stranger to Princeton. He was a charter member of the Princeton Devil Rays in 1997 and had a season to remember. In 67 games he hit .302 with 17 home runs and an Appalachian League-leading 68 runs batted in. Sandberg also scored 61 runs and had a .586 slugging percentage.

Those numbers were good enough to earn him the league’s Most Valuable Player award.

Being in Princeton somewhat reminded Sandberg of his home state of Washington. He was part of Tampa Bay’s first-ever draft class in 1996, a 16th-round pick out of high school, and spent his first professional season that summer in the Gulf Coast League in Florida.

With all the flat land and high temperatures, Sandberg’s assignment to Princeton the next year was almost like going home again.

“Being away from home was tough, and going to Princeton reminded me of the mountains and all of the beautiful scenery,” he said in a phone conversation. “The community is really close and they follow the Princeton Rays closely. It’s going to be fun.”

Sandberg, the nephew of Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, made his major league debut late in the 2001 season. His first full season was in 2002 when he hit 18 home runs for the Devil Rays.

His big league career ended after the 2003 season. He made a few trips around the minors before retiring after 2007.

Last summer, Sandberg landed his first coaching job when the Rays sent him to their New York-Penn League affiliate, the Hudson Valley Renegades, as hitting coach. Among the players he worked with was Tim Beckham, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2008 first-year players’ draft.

Beckham made his pro debut in Princeton last summer before a late call-up to Hudson Valley.

Sandberg already knew about Beckham’s talent and potential. He was more impressed with the Griffin, Ga., native’s attitude.

“My first impression was that I liked the kid,” he said. “He smiles all the time. I was very businesslike on the field, but he genuinely enjoyed being at the ballpark every day.”

Sandberg said he learned a few things at Hudson Valley that he can apply to his time as manager this summer.

“Joe Alvarez was the manager there and I learned a lot from him,” he said. “Going from playing to coaching, the game sped up, which shocked me. But I have learned how to slow it down a little bit, thinking a couple of outs ahead or even an inning ahead.”

As one of the players selected in Tampa’s first draft nearly 13 years ago, and now back with the franchise as a minor league manager, Sandberg said being part of Tampa Bay’s march to the World Series last season was special. He was part of the team’s 100-loss season in 2002 and was proud to see the success of 2008.

“What a great turnaround,” he said. “It was much deserved. To see the capacity crowds at Tropicana Field in some of those series late in the season was great. I played in front of more fans in Durham (N.C., the Rays’ triple-A affiliate) than I did at Tropicana Field.”

He now hopes to make some new memories at Hunnicutt Field in Princeton.