Bonds uncertain if he will play this season

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) – Injured San Francisco
Giants slugger Barry Bonds says he is still uncertain whether
he will play this season.

“I don’t know right now when I’m going to be back,” Bonds
told MLB.com in a telephone interview. “And right now I don’t
know if I’m going to be back at all this year.”

The 40-year-old Bonds, who underwent three operations on
his right knee, has been working with physical therapist Clive
Brewster in the Los Angeles area since June 24.

Bonds said at the beginning of the season he hoped to play
this year, but the Giants say he has not begun any baseball
work as part of his rehabilitation and did not join the team
when it began a four-game series with the Dodgers in Los
Angeles on Thursday.

Giants general manager Brian Sabean said earlier in the
week he was encouraged by reports on Bonds’ rehabilitation.

“The range of motion is significantly better,” Sabean told
reporters. “There is swelling (but) they’re very encouraged at
where he’s at.”

Sabean said Bonds’s work has been limited to low-impact
exercises. “Until they’re absolutely sure of the strength, and
more so the range of motion and what he can handle, we’ll stay
on that path,” he said.

Bonds, who holds Major League Baseball’s single-season home
run record of 73, is third on the all-time career list with 703
home runs. That puts him 11 behind second-placed Babe Ruth and
52 behind all-time leader Hank Aaron (755).

He is under contract to play for the Giants through the
2006 season and has said he would consider returning in 2007 if
he was within reach of Aaron’s record.