Barry Bonds will be a hit as hitting coach, says Jim Leyland

NASHVILLE — Jim Leyland remembers a young Barry Bonds committing himself to being a great hitter and now believes the homers king will be fully committed to his new role as the Marlins’ hitting coach.

“A lot of people don’t know how much Barry Bonds worked his whole career,” said Leyland, who managed Bonds for seven years in Pittsburgh.

Like others in the baseball industry, Leyland didn’t anticipate Bonds accepting a full-time coaching job.

Two others who managed Bonds side with Leyland and project Bonds will be a positive influence on Miami hitters.

“I was hoping he’d go to the American League,” said Washington manager Dusty Baker, Bonds’ manager for 10 years in San Francisco.

Former A’s utilityman Ben Zobrist was introduced as the Cubs’ second baseman at a news conference at the winter meetings Wednesday.

Zobrist emphasized throughout his media session that the major reason he chose the Cubs was the proximity to his home in Nashville.

The Giants flew Zobrist, wife Julianna and baby Blaise Royal out for a visit Sunday, and Zobrist told The Chronicle, They really made a great impression on me.

[...] what would the Zobrists have named their new daughter had he remained with the A’s instead of being traded to the Royals in July?

The Giants officially announced their five-year deal with pitcher Jeff Samardzija on Wednesday after he passed his physical.