Bonds tutoring A-Rod in batting cage

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Alex Rodriguez, trying to make the comeback of the century, has gotten a few tips from the best hitter since Ted Williams.

Barry Bonds, who spent time tutoring Giants hitters last season — Michael Morse credited Bonds after his majestic pinch homer in the pennant clincher — has broadened his teachings to other players. One of his students, Dexter Fowler, was traded Monday from the Astros to the Cubs.

Bonds’ latest pupil has been out of the game since 2013, has hip issues and turns 40 in July, but Rodriguez is gung ho about returning to the Yankees and is all ears around Bonds. A-Rod posted on Instagram two photos of him swinging a bat with these words: “Starting the year in the cage.”

Turns out the photos were taken in San Rafael at the Future Prospects facility owned and run by Charles Scott, Bonds’ friend and Arizona State teammate who played nine seasons in the minors and scouted for nine more with the Rays, Diamondbacks and Nationals. There, Bonds has worked with A-Rod as he did with Morse, Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Crawford and other Giants during his week-long stint in Scottsdale last spring.

A couple of sources — actually buddies whose kids train at the facility — tipped me off to the Bonds-Rodriguez sessions, which obviously made quite a few up-and-comers do a double take. The kids looked, listened and admired the all-time home run leader working with the onetime heir apparent, proprietors of a combined 1,416 homers talking ball.

New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez heads to the dugout after striking out looking in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) less New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez heads to the dugout after striking out looking in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy ... more Photo: Kathy Willens / Associated Press Photo: Kathy Willens / Associated Press Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Bonds tutoring A-Rod in batting cage 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Ex-Giants infielder Kevin Frandsen also was spotted at the facility, which has become a cool hangout for pros to train while youngsters hone their skills nearby. I’m told A-Rod, coming off his yearlong drug suspension, looked good after a couple of weeks at the facility, but it’s uncertain how much, if at all, he’ll play next season.

It can’t hurt to be a Bonds client. For A-Rod, it’s obviously about the present and getting the best tutoring available, his and Bonds’ association with the steroid era notwithstanding, and about acing a comeback, which could include an assist from the home run king.

John Shea is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jshea@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnSheaHey