Juan Sandoval has just one functioning eye, but that hasn't kept him from competing for a bullpen job with the Rays this spring.

Having only one eye "is nothing I wear on my chest," he said. "It's something I forget about."

While he would love to be simply a "pitcher" rather than "the guy with one eye," he hasn't shied away from telling his story because of the possible inspirational value to others.

"I really like the person I am," Sandoval said. "I like what I have done -- I'm cool with it. If I make it, I'm going to be happy because I know it's a story many people in the world can use to work for something they want."

The 32-year-old originally signed with the Mariners as a free agent on Aug. 3, 2000.

In February 2006, he was dining at a restaurant in the Dominican Republic when a drunken man accidentally hit him with a shotgun blast that left three pellets lodged in his right eye. He underwent two surgeries and was able to save the eye, though the tear duct is dried and the eye has no vision.