Ex-Giants Teammate Blasts Barry Bonds for Withholding Pitch Tipping Info

J.T. Snow calls Bonds' actions 'bush league' after learning he didn't share intel on teammates' tells.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 1:57am by Ben Kaplan

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Former San Francisco Giants player J.T. Snow took to social media to criticize legendary teammate Barry Bonds, after learning that Bonds would often spot his own teammates' pitch-tipping tells but refuse to share that information with them. The revelation came from ex-Giants broadcaster F.P. Santangelo, who said Bonds would watch the Giants' pitchers closely and know their tells, but wouldn't tell the pitchers in order to maintain an advantage over them if they ended up on opposing teams in the future.

Why it matters

Bonds' actions, while potentially beneficial to his own performance, were seen as selfish and detrimental to the team's overall success by his former teammate Snow. This highlights the complex dynamics and competing interests that can sometimes arise even among members of the same team.

The details

According to Santangelo, Bonds would sit in left field and identify the pitch-tipping tells of the Giants' own pitchers, including closer Robb Nen, but would refuse to share that information with them. Bonds has acknowledged this practice in the past, saying he didn't want to risk his teammates taking that information to other teams they might end up on in the future. Snow called Bonds' actions 'bush league' and the 'most BS thing' he ever experienced in MLB.

  • In 2023, Bonds discussed this practice on a podcast hosted by CC Sabathia.
  • The recent revelation came during an episode of the 'Splash Hit Territory' podcast hosted by F.P. Santangelo.

The players

Barry Bonds

A legendary slugger who played for the San Francisco Giants from 1993 to 2007, and is considered one of the greatest hitters in MLB history.

J.T. Snow

A former first baseman who played for the San Francisco Giants from 1997 to 2005, and was Bonds' teammate for those nine seasons.

F.P. Santangelo

A former MLB player who is now a part-time broadcaster for the Giants and KNBR radio.

Robb Nen

A former Giants closer who Bonds allegedly knew the pitch-tipping tells of, but did not share with Nen.

Tristan Beck

A Giants relief pitcher who is set to play for Great Britain in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

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What they’re saying

“Barry Bonds on our team would see our own pitchers tip — and you've probably heard this story — and he wouldn't tell them because he would say, 'You might be on another team next year and I'm going to face you.'”

— F.P. Santangelo, Giants broadcaster (Splash Hit Territory podcast)

“What a teammate, thought we were trying to win baseball games everyday, most BS...Bush league thing I ever experienced in Major League Baseball.”

— J.T. Snow, Former Giants player (X (Twitter)

“Robb was giving it up for a week and Barry never said a word, says it all.”

— J.T. Snow, Former Giants player (X (Twitter)

What’s next

The Giants have not commented on the revelations about Bonds' actions, and it remains to be seen if this will impact his relationship with the organization or his legacy.

The takeaway

Bonds' approach, while potentially beneficial to his individual performance, was seen by at least one former teammate as selfish and detrimental to the team's overall success. This highlights the complex dynamics that can arise even among members of the same professional sports team.