Giants Are Pleased by Bonds’ Progress

Barry Bonds is in Southern California rehabilitating his surgically repaired right knee and probably won’t rejoin the San Francisco Giants until after the All-Star break.

Bonds, who hasn’t played this season as he recovers from three operations on his knee since Jan. 31, is progressing enough that the Giants remain hopeful he will play this summer -- though there still is no timetable for the slugger’s return.

“It’s all a plus right now,” assistant general manager Ned Colletti said Monday. “The key factors -- range of motion, the strength of the leg -- are coming along. No setbacks.”

The seven-time National League most valuable player, who turns 41 on July 24, has yet to resume baseball activities. Bonds is working with physical therapist Clive Brewster after the Giants connected them on trainer Stan Conte’s recommendation.

“I’m not sure what his resume is exactly, but he’s not someone we called information on,” said Colletti, noting that Brewster has worked with many top athletes.

Bonds went home during the Giants’ series June 24-26 at Oakland.

He batted .362 last season with 45 homers and 101 runs batted in and walked a major league-record 232 times on the way to his record seventh MVP award. He has been upbeat lately and eager to rejoin his teammates.

Bonds probably will rejoin the Giants a week from Thursday when they begin a four-game series at Dodger Stadium.

*

Curt Schilling struggled in what was supposed to be his final rehabilitation outing before returning to the Red Sox rotation, giving up five runs and eight hits in five innings for Boston’s triple-A team in Pawtucket, R.I.

Schilling walked two and struck out eight, leaving after 93 pitches to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 11,629 -- the second-largest in franchise history. He tipped his PawSox cap and threw it to a boy in the front row before shaking hands with Pawtucket Manager Ron Johnson.

Schilling hit 96 mph on the stadium radar gun in his final inning and showed no signs of trouble with his ankle when he was pitching.

“When I come back, I don’t want it to be a baby-sitting thing,” Schilling said, noting that Boston is already in first place.

“I don’t want to come back to pitch. I want to come back to be myself.”

*

The Milwaukee Brewers activated third baseman Russell Branyan from the 15-day disabled list before opening a four-game series against the Florida Marlins.

To make room for Branyan, Prince Fielder -- the son of former major league star Cecil Fielder -- was optioned to triple-A Nashville. Fielder hit .321 with one homer and six RBIs in 13 games with the Brewers.