Jeff Kent Tells Barry Bonds to Keep Faith in Hall Bid at No. 21 Retirement

Q: What unexpected mentoring role will this newly minted Hall of Famer take on after admitting his discomfort with the public spotlight?

Jeff Kent said he expects to take on an informal mentor role with the Giants, even though he is uneasy about the attention that comes with being a Hall of Famer. After his jersey retirement, Kent said the next step is getting used to “what Hall of Famers do” — returning to spring training, attending Giants functions, offering advice, and sitting around the clubhouse available for younger players who want to talk. He specifically described the model of Willie Mays and Willie McCovey: being present in the locker room and serving as a resource when a player seeks guidance. That is the unexpected part for Kent, because he openly acknowledged that this kind of passive, public elder-statesman role does not come naturally to him. He called himself an “in-your-face guy” who is either “all out” or “all in,” and said he would have “a real hard time” simply being around in the background waiting to mentor players when asked. Still, the searched coverage makes clear he wants to remain connected to the organization in exactly that capacity — not as a front-facing celebrity, but as a clubhouse adviser and sounding board for younger Giants.

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 30

Jeff Kent used his Giants No. 21 retirement ceremony to publicly urge Barry Bonds to "keep with it," saying the all-time home run leader still has a Hall of Fame chance.
Oracle Park also staged a lighter reunion: Kent and Bonds embraced and playfully reenacted their 2002 dugout scuffle before San Francisco's 7-2 win over Arizona.
Kent said their bond was forged through competition — "I’ll go to war with that guy" — while adding Bonds must handle the baggage around his candidacy himself.
Bonds' 762 home runs, 7 NL MVPs and 14 All-Star selections have not overcome voters' resistance tied to performance-enhancing drug allegations, and he said in 2024 he no longer expected induction.