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Swing away: Bonds takes batting practice at UCLA
Barry Bonds has been taking batting practice at UCLA's baseball facility for the last two days, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark learned Tuesday night.
According to Marc Dellins, an associate athletic director for sports information at UCLA, Bonds' representatives contacted the school recently and asked if he could hit in the batting cage "for a couple of days."
The school gave him permission. And Bonds worked out Monday and Tuesday with his own people, Dellins said. No UCLA players or coaches participated, Dellins said.
Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, confirmed late Tuesday that it was his office that made contact with UCLA and requested permission for Bonds to use the facilities.
"They said they'd be more than happy to accommodate him," Borris said, "and that he should just call ahead to let them know them know when he was coming"
Giants general manager Brian Sabean spoke Tuesday to renowned Angels orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum, who has been working with Bonds in Los Angeles along with physical therapist Clive Brewster.
"Him taking swings in a college batting cage is a long way from doing baseball work with us," Sabean told ESPN.com. "It's just another step in his rehab. To what extent this is of any significance -- until I'm told otherwise -- it's just part of the exercise regimen he's going through. Once he's accelerated to the point where the doctors are ready to turn him over to us, then he can do more meaningful and substantial baseball activities. But for now, this is just another step."
Borris wouldn't comment on whether Bonds will continue to hit at UCLA or on any aspect of Bonds' future rehab schedule.
Sabean planned to speak to Yocum and Brewster again Wednesday to better determine when Bonds -- recovering from three surgeries on his right knee since Jan. 31 -- might be able to rejoin his San Francisco teammates.
Though Sabean isn't ready to guess when Bonds might be back in uniform to resume his chase of the home run record.
The seven-time NL MVP hasn't played all season, though he said recently on his Web site that he has been more upbeat recently about returning.
"Until both those folks, even with him doing this activity, release him to us, it's in their hands. I have full faith in how they've handled it and where this thing's going under their guidance," Sabean told The Associated Press. "Yeah, I'm hopeful, but I can't guarantee anything. This is definitely a day-to-day situation. Again, building on what they're asking, he's not standing still and he's not taking steps back."
Last week, the 41-year-old Bonds began sprinting and cutting at the UCLA track. Bonds has 703 home runs, third on the career list behind Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755). Carlton Fisk's 53 homers are the most any player has hit after turning 41, and that is exactly the number Bonds needs to break Aaron's record.
Bonds batted .362 last season with 45 homers and 101 RBI and walked a major league-record 232 times on the way to his record seventh MVP award.
His most recent operation was May 2 to drain fluid and examine an infection.
Source: AP
According to Marc Dellins, an associate athletic director for sports information at UCLA, Bonds' representatives contacted the school recently and asked if he could hit in the batting cage "for a couple of days."
The school gave him permission. And Bonds worked out Monday and Tuesday with his own people, Dellins said. No UCLA players or coaches participated, Dellins said.
Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, confirmed late Tuesday that it was his office that made contact with UCLA and requested permission for Bonds to use the facilities.
"They said they'd be more than happy to accommodate him," Borris said, "and that he should just call ahead to let them know them know when he was coming"
Giants general manager Brian Sabean spoke Tuesday to renowned Angels orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum, who has been working with Bonds in Los Angeles along with physical therapist Clive Brewster.
"Him taking swings in a college batting cage is a long way from doing baseball work with us," Sabean told ESPN.com. "It's just another step in his rehab. To what extent this is of any significance -- until I'm told otherwise -- it's just part of the exercise regimen he's going through. Once he's accelerated to the point where the doctors are ready to turn him over to us, then he can do more meaningful and substantial baseball activities. But for now, this is just another step."
Borris wouldn't comment on whether Bonds will continue to hit at UCLA or on any aspect of Bonds' future rehab schedule.
Sabean planned to speak to Yocum and Brewster again Wednesday to better determine when Bonds -- recovering from three surgeries on his right knee since Jan. 31 -- might be able to rejoin his San Francisco teammates.
Though Sabean isn't ready to guess when Bonds might be back in uniform to resume his chase of the home run record.
The seven-time NL MVP hasn't played all season, though he said recently on his Web site that he has been more upbeat recently about returning.
"Until both those folks, even with him doing this activity, release him to us, it's in their hands. I have full faith in how they've handled it and where this thing's going under their guidance," Sabean told The Associated Press. "Yeah, I'm hopeful, but I can't guarantee anything. This is definitely a day-to-day situation. Again, building on what they're asking, he's not standing still and he's not taking steps back."
Last week, the 41-year-old Bonds began sprinting and cutting at the UCLA track. Bonds has 703 home runs, third on the career list behind Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755). Carlton Fisk's 53 homers are the most any player has hit after turning 41, and that is exactly the number Bonds needs to break Aaron's record.
Bonds batted .362 last season with 45 homers and 101 RBI and walked a major league-record 232 times on the way to his record seventh MVP award.
His most recent operation was May 2 to drain fluid and examine an infection.
Source: AP