Report: Barry Bonds helping Giants

— -- Barry Bonds will serve as a special instructor for San Francisco Giants hitters during spring training, according to a report by the San Jose Mercury News.

The former Giants star is a seven-time National League MVP and MLB's all-time home runs leader with 762, including a single-season record 73 in 2001.

But Bonds' reputation has been tarnished by his connection to performance-enhancing drugs and an obstruction to justice conviction stemming from the BALCO investigation.