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Barry Bonds, the home-run king known for his cantankerous relationship with the media, could soon join the press corps he once loathed.
In a paradoxical twist, The Athletic reported that Netflix (opens in new tab) is courting Bonds to partake in its pre and postgame shows for Opening Day coverage of the Giants-Yankees matchup at Oracle Park. The one-off appearance wouldn’t be a first for Bonds, who participated on a FOX pregame panel (opens in new tab) ahead of a Giants game at Rickwood Field in Alabama in 2024.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Netflix wants Bonds on its San Francisco set, even if he was never known as a generous quote or affable character when the cameras and microphones shut off. When Bonds talks — no matter how rare those occasions are — people will tune in.
A few TV appearances aren’t going to completely change Bonds’ reputation, but if the seven-time MVP ever committed to regular spots or signed on with a major network or streaming service, he could show off a different side of himself (if that’s what he desires).
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He’ll never be able to outtalk his ties to various controversies or the general sentiment that his presence sucked the air out of a clubhouse, but none of this changes the fact curious baseball fans want to hear what Bonds has to say.
Considering all the time Bonds spent avoiding microphones, there are plenty of stories he might finally reveal.
Bonds runs an active Instagram account (opens in new tab) and has made regular appearances at Oracle Park since he last played, but he has rarely ever spoken off the cuff about the state of the game, the Giants, and deeply personal matters such as falling short of the vote threshold required for Hall of Fame enshrinement.
It’s unclear whether Bonds, who has always seemed deeply uncomfortable around the media, has what it takes to thrive on camera. The best analysts are candid and often self-deprecating, and there’s little evidence Bonds has the humility required to be a good on-air teammate with a host and other analysts offering competing thoughts.
But in his 2024 Fox cameo, Bonds offered up this gem when Derek Jeter (opens in new tab) asked how he would fare against legendary pitcher Satchel Paige.
“Gone. You lost your mind, Jeter. Gone. Simple. Gone. Read about it on ESPN.”
That humor, coming from that player, probably made a strong impression on Netflix executives. Time will tell if they can secure Bonds for their Opening Day broadcast, and whether Bonds recognizes what regular media appearances could do to change the way he’s viewed in baseball and beyond.