San Francisco Giants: 5 Positive Takeaways From April

Pablo Sandoval

For all the focus on his weight and elbow, Pablo Sandoval’s April was quite good. He ends the month tied for the NL lead in hits (35), and he’s tied for third place with 22 RBI.

April 30, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) hits a two run home run in the ninth inning during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

What’s more, Sandoval ended April having gone 11-for-18 over his final four games of the month. Yeah, he’s on fire.

And Sandoval isn’t leading the NL in hits with a more patient approach. Per Fan Graphs, he has an O-Swing% of 47.3 percent in 2013. In 2012, he had a O-Swing% of 42.6 percent. That number could even out depending on Sandoval’s level of aggressiveness. But those to numbers tell you one thing: There’s no exact way for opposing pitchers to pitch him.

If Sandoval can stay healthy, he’s in a good position to contend for the NL MVP.