Jan 2, 2009 12:50 am US/Pacific
Bonds Has Hip Surgery, Wants To Return To Baseball
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ―
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Barry Bonds.
Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images
Barry Bonds still wants to play baseball, but recent hip surgery may delay his return even if a team wants to pick him up, the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper reported.
The former San Francisco Giants superstar underwent a hip operation that wasn't considered major, reportedly conducted by Dr. Arthur Ting, according to the Chronicle. They cited a source familiar with the operation.
Bonds isn't expected to return before spring training in six weeks, but could be fully recovered and ready for opening day, the published report said. He hasn't played in a major league game since Sept. 26, 2007, the end to his 15 years as a Giant.
Bonds, 44, holds the Major League Baseball record with 762 home runs. He needs another 38 home runs to reach 800 and 65 hits to reach 3,000.
He faces a March 2 trial on charges of lying to a federal grand jury in 2003 and obstructing justice regarding the use of steroids in the BALCO case. Bonds has pleaded not guilty to 14 counts - since reduced to 10, and has maintained he never knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs.
Both Ting and Bonds' agent Jeff Borris refused to comment when contacted by the Chronicle.
While waiting outside a Los Angeles restaurant on Dec. 15, Bonds told celebrity news Web site TMZ.com that he would not retire from the game, his first comments since a public appearance in October in San Francisco, at which he said he was enjoying life away from baseball.
"I had fun," Bonds said then, "but I like my freedom."
Back in October, the MLB Players Association said it had evidence that teams conspired against signing Bonds last season, but the union reached an agreement with commissioner Bud Selig's office to delay the filing of any grievance.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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