Barry Bonds will return to San Francisco for a three-game series beginning Friday, still wearing orange and black but now in a different role with a different team.
The former Giants slugger will be in the visitors' dugout as hitting coach for the Miami Marlins, and he doesn't think it's as strange as it sounds.
''It's not going to feel strange,'' Bonds said. ''That's my home. That will always be my home. I don't feel strange at home.''
He's making a second home in Miami, and all indications are he enjoys his new job. Every time a TV camera shows Bonds during a game, which is often, he seems to be grinning.
''It's nice to be back on the field,'' Bonds said. ''I like it a lot. It feels better on this side than when I was playing. I was always focused in on, 'I've got to do the next job. I've got to go play defense.' Now I get to be on this side and enjoy it. When I see something they are working so hard on, it's exciting.''
Bonds was upbeat even though the Marlins are off to another dismal start and not hitting much for their new hitting coach. Justin Bour went into Thursday's game batting .225, Giancarlo Stanton was at .224, J.T. Realmuto was at .205 and Marcell Ozuna was at .196.
''It's not how you start, it's how you finish,'' Bonds said. ''These guys are young players. You expect bumps in the road. That's the whole challenge of it.''
Bonds is back in the majors for the first time since his final season as a player in 2007.
The 14-time All-Star finished his career as the major-league leader in home runs (762) and walks (2,558) to go along with seven MVP awards.
