Scottsdale, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - MLB's all-time home run leader Barry Bonds will reportedly join the San Francisco Giants next month as a special instructor for the organization's young hitters.
Bonds, who smacked 762 homers in 22 seasons with the Pirates and Giants, left professional baseball in 2007. He earned a record seven MVP awards, including four straight with San Francisco from 2001-2004.
"He's part of what we'll do here," Giants manager Bruce Bochy told the San Jose Mercury News. "He's going to be part of the group of instructors, like Will Clark, J.T. Snow or Jeff Kent," all former Giants players.
Bonds has kept a low profile since leaving the game due to allegations that he used performance enhancing drugs during his time as a player as well as a federal conviction for obstruction of justice during the grand jury investigation into BALCO.
"Collectively within the organization, we felt that given Barry's desire to continue to contribute to the Giants, we should be open-minded about giving him the same invite that we have given to other players in the past," Giants CEO and president Larry Baer told the Mercury News.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.