Boof Bonser
Encyclopedia
Boof Bonser is a professional American baseball player. He is currently a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...

 in the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...

 organization of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

.

High school career

Bonser attended Gibbs High School, compiling a record of 24-9 and a 1.99 ERA. In his senior year, he went 7-3, 1.88 and hit .523 with 11 home runs. He was named the 2000 Pinellas County High School Player of the Year and played in the 2000 Florida State All-Star game.

Minor league career

Bonser was selected out of high school by the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....

 in the first round (21st overall) of the 2000 amateur draft
2000 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Compensation picks:- Background :The Florida Marlins made Adrian Gonzalez of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA the first overall selection in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft...

. Bonser made his professional baseball debut at age 18 for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes are a minor league baseball team in Keizer, Oregon, United States. They are a Short-Season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants since the Volcanoes' inception in 1997...

. In , he had a breakout season for the Hagerstown Suns
Hagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans....

, leading the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...

 in wins (16), and finishing second in strikeouts (178), which earned him South Atlantic League Most Valuable Pitcher and Post-Season All-Star honors. After the season, he had his first name legally changed to his childhood nickname, "Boof".

From through , Bonser progressed steadily through the Giants' system, reaching the Triple-A level at the end of the 2003 season with the Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...

. On November 14, 2003, Bonser was traded to the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...

 organization, along with pitchers Joe Nathan
Joe Nathan
Joseph Michael Nathan is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball . Nathan started out his baseball career as a shortstop in high school but converted to a pitcher after being drafted by the San Francisco Giants...

 and Francisco Liriano
Francisco Liriano
Francisco Liriano y Casillas is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.-Professional career:...

, for catcher A. J. Pierzynski
A. J. Pierzynski
Anthony John "A. J." Pierzynski is an American Major League Baseball catcher who is currently with the Chicago White Sox. Pierzynski previously played with the Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants . Pierzynski was also a wrestler for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.-Early life:Anthony John...

, and cash. Bonser was assigned to AA New Britain
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...

 for , and was promoted to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...

 for a spot start at the end of the season, then spent the entire season in Rochester.

As Bonser continued to pitch in the minors without any further breakout seasons, his status as an elite prospect faded, but after a fast start at Rochester in in which he posted an ERA of 2.01, Bonser was promoted to the majors.

Rookie season

On May 17, 2006, Bonser was called up to the Twins to replace struggling starter Kyle Lohse
Kyle Lohse
Kyle Matthew Lohse is a right-handed starting pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. Originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in , Lohse was traded to the Minnesota Twins in in a deal involving Rick Aguilera. Lohse made his MLB debut with the Twins on June 22, .Lohse is a member of the Nomlaki...

 in the rotation, with Lohse going to Triple-A. Bonser made his major league debut on May 21, as the starting pitcher for the Twins against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...

. In six innings, Bonser allowed one run and struck out eight. On May 27, his second start, Bonser earned his first major league victory, getting the win in a 9-5 Minnesota Twins victory. Bonser pitched five innings, giving up eight hits and four runs, including a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...

.His second win came against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...

 on June 24. He pitched 6⅓ scoreless innings, allowing six hits and no walks, with one strikeout.

After a disappointing start against the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...

 on July 4, Bonser was returned to Triple-A Rochester. He had made seven MLB starts, going 2-2 with a 5.30 ERA. After a month at Rochester, Bonser was called up to make an emergency start on August 2 in place of the injured Francisco Liriano, then sent back to Rochester after the game, in which he gave up seven runs in four innings.

By August 12, Liriano had been placed on the DL, and Bonser was back in Minneapolis to face the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....

. Although he lost the game, allowing seven hits and three runs over 5⅔ innings, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire
Ron Gardenhire
Ronald Clyde "Gardy" Gardenhire is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and current manager of the Minnesota Twins.He is six feet tall and weighed 175 pounds during most of his baseball career....

 decided to keep him in the starting rotation. As the Twins pushed for a playoff spot in 2006, Bonser solidified the fifth starter's job. Then, a string of injuries and ineffective pitching by the other Twins pitchers and Bonser's commanding recent performances earned him the #2 spot in the Twins' postseason rotation. In his postseason start, he pitched six innings, allowing two runs, to pick up a no-decision as the Twins lost to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....

.

Bonser was named the AL Rookie of the Month for September, 2006 for his performances in the final month of the season.

2007: First full season

Bonser began the season as the second pitcher in the Twins rotation, behind Johan Santana
Johan Santana
Johan Alexander Santana Araque is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher who is currently playing for the New York Mets. He is a native of Venezuela....

. Bonser's first two starts were dramatically different, as he followed his 6 IP, 2 ER debut by allowing 6 ER in 4⅓ IP. He then responded with a string of quality start
Quality start
In baseball, a quality start is a statistic for a starting pitcher defined as a game in which the pitcher completes at least six innings and permits no more than three earned runs....

s, but was 2-9 after Memorial Day. He finished the season with an 8-12 record with an earned run average of 5.10 and had 136 strikeouts in 173 innings pitched.

2008 season

After the 2007 season, the Twins organization became worried about Bonser’s weight. He had struggled with stamina and pitching late into ball games during the 2007 season, so the Twins encouraged him to lose weight, which he accomplished by a healthier diet, combined with more intense exercise. He lost thirty pounds by the start of the 2008 regular season. Bonser pitched the second game in the Twins season, the only returning starter on the team with at least twelve games of experience from the previous season.

Bonser’s weight loss did not, however, help his starting pitching performances through May 31, as he compiled a mark of 2-6 with a 6.16 ERA, and was demoted to the bullpen to make room for teammate Scott Baker.

After his demotion, Boof made his first relief appearance for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...

 on June 4 against the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...

. In that game he pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out four, and picking up the win.

Through August 23, Boof had a 6.29 ERA overall and a 6.96 ERA as a reliever.

2009 season

On February 25, , Bonser underwent surgery to repair tears in his labrum and rotator cuff, and missed the entire 2009 season.

He was designated for assignment by the Twins on December 8, . On December 10, Bonser was traded to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...

 for a player to be named later. That player was minor league righty Chris Province.

2010 season

Bonser started out the year on the DL, and was not activated until June 8. He made two appearances for the Red Sox, giving up two walks, six hits, and four earned runs in two innings pitched. He recorded 0 outs in the first appearance, accumulating an ERA of 18.00 in his two appearances. The Red Sox designated him for assignment on June 18, but he elected to become a free agent after refusing minor league assignment on June 28. He signed a minor league contract with Oakland
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....

 and spent July at Triple-A Sacramento. On July 31, he was called up.

After the A's outrighted Bonser to Sacramento on 2 November, he refused the assignment, and elected to become a free agent.

2011 season

On December 7, 2010 Bonser signed a minor-league deal with the New York Mets. He made his pitching debut for the AAA Buffalo Bisons on April 10, 2011. He pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up one run on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. He threw 59 pitches, 35 for strikes. Bonser left the game with an injury in the 4th inning.

External links

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