Barry Bonds, Mike Stanton play home-run derby

JUPITER, Fla. – Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton and hitting coach Barry Bonds showed off their home run prowess at spring training.

What began as an exercise in hitting breaking balls Wednesday evolved into Stanton and the home run king teeing off for homers on the back fields at the Roger Dean Stadium.

Stanton says he hit three homers and Bonds finished with four. It wasn’t exactly a home-run hitting contest, but the 26-year-old Stanton and 51-year-old Bonds held their own.

“Hit another 50-year-old out there and he’d probably snap his back in half,” Stanton said. “Either way, that was probably one of the coolest things we’ve done because we all had a good time while we were getting our work in.

“Everyone seemed to gravitate toward that field by the time we were done, so it was really cool.”

Marlins manager Don Mattingly, a former A.L. batting champ, said he won’t take part in any drills.

“I know better,” Mattingly said. “I had one back surgery, I don’t want another one.”