Barry Bonds had elbow surgery the day after the regular season ended, the San Francisco Giants slugger revealed on Wednesday.
"On Monday, I had an operation on my elbow to clean up the bone chips, which were causing irritation and swelling throughout the year," Bonds said on his website. "As soon as I heal in the next few weeks, I will begin my off-season training."
Bonds, 42, swatted 26 home runs this season to give him 734 for his career — just 21 behind Hank Aaron's all-time record.
Barry Bonds smacked 26 homers in 2006, leaving him 21 shy of Hank Aaron's all-time record.
(Associated Press)
A free agent once the playoffs conclude, Bonds has not said whether he will play next year.
It is also unclear whether the Giants, who finished third in the National League West, would welcome back Bonds, who made $18 million US this season.
Controversy surrounded the team all year as Bonds endured allegations of past steroid use and a related federal investigation into whether he lied under oath to a grand jury about his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs.
The notoriously prickly Bonds offered praise to his San Francisco teammates Wednesday for their handling of the tempestuous 2006 campaign.
"Although our team didn't make it to the post-season, I want my teammates to know this was the best group of guys I have ever played with," Bonds said on his website.
"There were a lot of things going on around me this season and my teammates came together and stood behind me. I will never forget that."
