Barry Bonds has been working as a special advisor for the San Francisco Giants over the last several years, but it appears his duties have expanded.
Evan Webeck of The Mercury News reported Saturday that the retired slugger great Bonds has been serving as an informal hitting coach for the Giants this season. Webeck notes that Bonds would drop by in seasons past but has really seen his presence become more frequent this year. Bonds is now around for virtually every night game at Oracle Park, offering advice to individual hitters and tailoring his work to fit the team’s overall strategy too.
Webeck also mentions that the Giants’ new manager, Bob Melvin, has been more receptive to having Bonds and other franchise alums (including now-coaches Pat Burrell and Matt Williams) around the team. The piece by Webeck features quotes from several Giants players and organization members on the positive impact that Bonds has made this season.
You can read the feature in full here.
Bonds, now 60, famously played for the Giants from 1993-2007. While he will always be a controversial figure, the 14-time All-Star has slowly been given a very warm welcome back to the Giants in recent years. The Giants brought back Bonds as a special advisor to CEO Larry Baer in 2017 and soon after added him to their Wall of Fame and also retired Bonds’ No. 25 jersey.
Just last month, Bonds made headlines for his comments about the Baseball Hall of Fame. But regardless of what happens there, it appears Bonds is well on his road to rehabilitation with his new role as an informal Giants coach.
