John Paul "Boof" Bonser (born October 14, 1981) is an American former professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...
. He played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB) for the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
,
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
, and
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
.
High school career
Bonser attended
Gibbs High School, compiling a record of 24–9 and a 1.99 earned run average. In his senior year, he went 7–3 with a 1.88 ERA and hit .523 with 11 home runs. He was named the 2000
Pinellas County
Pinellas County (, ) is located on the west central coast of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 959,107, making it the seventh-most populous county in the state. It is also the most d ...
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
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
in the first round (21st overall) of the
2000 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional baseball debut at age 18 for the Single-A
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, going 1–4 with a 6.00 ERA in 10 games (nine starts).
In , he had a breakout season for the Single-A
Hagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns were a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland. They were a member of the South Atlantic League and, from 2007 through 2020, were the Class A (baseball), Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They pl ...
, leading the
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its h ...
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.
On November 14, 2003, Bonser was traded to the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
organization, along with pitchers
Joe Nathan
Joseph Michael Nathan (born November 22, 1974) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers, Detro ...
and
Francisco Liriano, for catcher
A. J. Pierzynski, and cash. Bonser was assigned to Double-A
New Britain
New Britain () is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago, part of the Islands Region of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from New Guinea by a northwest corner of the Solomon Sea (or with an island hop of Umboi Island, Umboi the Dampie ...
for , and was promoted to the Triple-A
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Rochester, New York, and play their home games at Innovative Fie ...
for a spot start at the end of the season. He 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 earned run average of 2.01, he was promoted to the majors.
Bonser was inducted into the
Hagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns were a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland. They were a member of the South Atlantic League and, from 2007 through 2020, were the Class A (baseball), Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They pl ...
Hall of Fame on May 14, 2016.
Major league career
Rookie season
On May 17, 2006, Bonser was called up to the Twins to replace struggling starter
Kyle Lohse in the rotation, with Lohse going to Triple-A.
Bonser made his major league debut on May 21, as the starting pitcher against the
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...
. In six innings, he allowed one run and struck out eight. On May 27, his second start, Bonser earned his first major league victory in a 9–5 win over the
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...
. Bonser pitched five innings, giving up eight hits and four runs, including a
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the Baseball (ball), ball is hit in such a way that the batting (baseball), batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safe (baseball), safely in one play without any error ( ...
. His second win came against the
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
on June 24. He pitched scoreless innings, allowing six hits and no walks, with one strikeout.
After a disappointing start against the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
on July 4, Bonser was returned to Triple-A Rochester. He had made seven major league starts, going 2–2 with a 5.30 ERA. After a month at Rochester, he 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 disabled list, and Bonser was back in Minneapolis to face the
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
. Although he lost the game, allowing seven hits and three runs over innings, Twins manager
Ron Gardenhire 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 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
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
.
Bonser was named the AL
Rookie of the Month for September 2006 for his performances in the final month of the season. He finished the season 7–6 with a 4.22 ERA in 18 starts.
2007: First full season
Bonser began the season as the second pitcher in the Twins rotation, behind
Johan Santana. Bonser's first two starts were dramatically different, as he followed a six inning start in which he allowed two earned runs by allowing six earned runs in innings. He then responded with a string of
quality starts, but was 2–9 after Memorial Day. In 31 games (30 starts), Bonser posted an 8–12 record with a 5.10 ERA, 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, and was the only returning starter who had pitched at least twelve games for the Twins during the previous season.
However, Bonser's weight loss did not help his starting pitching performances through May 31, as he compiled a mark of 2–6 with a 6.16 earned run average, and was demoted to the bullpen to make room for
Scott Baker.
After his demotion, Bonser made his first relief appearance for the Twins on June 4 against the
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
. In that game he pitched scoreless innings, striking out four and picking up the win.
Through August 23, Bonser's earned run average was 6.22 overall and 6.96 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, 2009. On December 10, Bonser was traded to the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
for a player to be named later. That player was minor league right-handed pitcher
Chris Province.
2010 season
Bonser started the year on the disabled list, 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 no outs in the first appearance, accumulating an earned run average of 18.00 in the 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 the
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
and spent July at Triple-A
Sacramento
Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...
. On July 31, Bonser was called up by the A's.
After the A's outrighted Bonser to Sacramento on November 2, he refused the assignment, and elected to become a free agent again.
2011 season
On December 7, 2010, Bonser signed a minor league deal with the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
. He made his pitching debut for the Triple-A
Buffalo Bisons on April 10, 2011. He pitched 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 fourth inning. He underwent
Tommy John surgery
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Tommy John surgery is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body, ...
and did not pitch the rest of the year.
2012 season
Bonser signed a minor league contract with the
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
on December 28, 2011. He did not pitch in 2012 while still recovering from elbow surgery.
2013 season
After posting a 5.87 earned run average at Triple-A
Fresno
Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
, the Giants released Bonser from his minor league contract on June 27. Just three days later, on June 30, he signed a minor league contract with the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
. The Indians released Bonser on August 2 after he went 0–2 with a 6.00 ERA in three games (one start) with the Triple-A
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy Merchant ship, merch ...
of the
International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major ...
.
He finished the season in
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
with the
Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the
Chinese Professional Baseball League
The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL; ) is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989 and played the first season in 1990. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 20 ...
, going 1–0 with a 1.76 ERA in 11 relief appearances.
2014 season
Bonser joined the
Bridgeport Bluefish of the
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs where he appeared in 12 games, pitched 16.2 innings, and struck out 15 batters while going 2–0 with a 2.16 earned run average.
Bonser retired on January 4, 2015.
References
External links
, o
Retrosheet o
Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Winter League)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonser, Boof
1981 births
Living people
American expatriate baseball players in Taiwan
Arizona League Giants players
Baseball players from St. Petersburg, Florida
Boston Red Sox players
Bravos de Margarita players
21st-century American sportsmen
American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
Bridgeport Bluefish players
Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
Columbus Clippers players
Fort Myers Miracle players
Fresno Grizzlies players
Grand Canyon Rafters players
Hagerstown Suns players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Minnesota Twins players
New Britain Rock Cats players
Norwich Navigators players
Oakland Athletics players
Pawtucket Red Sox players
Rochester Red Wings players
Sacramento River Cats players
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes players
San Jose Giants players
Shreveport Swamp Dragons players
Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions players