BONSER, BOOF  
 
Image of    Nickname:   N/A Position:   P
Home: St. Petersburg, Florida Team:   Retired
Height: 6' 4" Bats:   R
Weight: 235 Throws:   R
DOB: 10/14/1981 Agent: Brian Mooney
Birth City: St. Petersburg, Florida Draft: Giants #1 - 2000 - Out of Gibbs H.S. (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
Uniform #: N/A  
 
YR LEA TEAM SAL(K) G IP H SO BB GS CG SHO SV W L OBA ERA
2000 NWL SALEM-KEIZER   10 33 21 41 29 9 0 0 0 1 4   6.00
2001 SAL HAGERSTOWN   27 134 91 178 61 27 0 0 0 16 4   2.49
2002 CAL SAN JOSE   23 128 89 139 70 23 0 0 0 8 6   2.88
2002 TL SHREVEPORT   5 24 30 23 14 5 0 0 0 1 2   5.55
2003 PCL FRESNO   4 23 17 28 8 4 0 0 0 1 2   3.13
2003 EL NORWICH   24 135 122 103 67 24 1 1 0 7 10   4.00
2004 EL NEW BRITAIN   27 154 160 146 56 27 0 0 0 12 9   4.37
2004 IL ROCHESTER   1 7 5 7 1 1 0 0 0 1 0   1.29
2005 IL ROCHESTER   28 160 153 168 57 28 0 0 0 11 9   3.99
2006 IL ROCHESTER   14 86.1 68 83 35 14 0 0 0 6 4 0.211 2.81
2006 AL TWINS $327.00 18 100.1 104 84 24 18 0 0 0 7 6 0.267 4.22
2007 AL TWINS $397.00 31 173 199 136 65 30 0 0 0 8 12 0.286 5.10
2008 AL TWINS $433.00 47 118.1 139 97 36 12 0 0 0 3 7 0.285 5.93
2009 AL TWINS-D.L. $450.00                          
2009 FSL FORT MYERS   1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0   0.00
2010 IL PAWTUCKET   9 32.2 37 25 14 8 0 0 0 0 2   6.34
2010 AL RED SOX   2 2 6 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.545 18.00
2010 PCL SACRAMENTO   5 23.2 20 17 11 5 0 0 0 2 1   4.56
2010 AL ATHLETICS   13 23 27 17 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.3 5.09
2011 IL BUFFALO   1 3.2 3 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0   2.45
2012 AZL AZL-Giants   6 5.1 2 3 4 2 0 0 0 1 1   3.38
2012 PCL FRESNO   11 34 38 23 13 7 0 0 0 0 3   4.50
2013 PCL FRESNO   15 79.2 95 46 40 15 0 0 0 2 6   5.87
2013 IL COLUMBUS   3 15 20 10 4 1 0 0 0 0 2   6.00
2014 ATL Bridgeport                            

  • When he was a 12-year-old in the Pinellas Park, Florida Little League, a pitcher bounced the ball to the plate. "I waited for it to come up, and I hit it out," Boof recalled.

  • In 2000, his senior high school sesason, he hit .523-11-36 in 25 games. As a pitcher, he went 7-3, 1.88 ERA, with 111 strikeouts in 63 innings for a team with a losing record.

  • Before 2001 spring training, Bonser legally changed his name from John Paul to Boof. He has been known as "Boof" since his mother and her friends labeled him that almost from birth. "It's just the name I've had since I was growing up. My given name was John," Bonser explained.

  • Over the winter before 2001 spring training, Boof worked daily with personal trainer Larry Mayo, dropping about 20 pounds. He also worked out with Twins P Joe Mays, Twins C Cory Agar, and former major league OF Mark Whiten.

  • Boof has a fine work ethic. He pushes himself to stay in superb condition. He is committed to becoming the best pitcher he can be.

  • On May 5, 2002, Bonser and R.D. Spiehs combined to pitch a no-hitter for San Jose—a 9-1 win over Rancho Cucamonga. Bonser pitched the first six innings, Spiehs the final three. Bonser surrendered a run in the first inning after walking the leadoff batter, who later scored on a fielder's choice.

  • Before both 2005 and 2006 spring training camp opened, the Baseball America Prospect Handbook had Bonser as 25th-best prospect in the Twins' organization.

  • During the offseason before 2008 spring training Boof lost between 25 and 30 pounds from his 2007 listed weight of 260 pounds. He enlisted a nutritionist, a personal trainer and some willpower. And his fiancee, Jessica Clark, was very helpful in holding Boof to good routine of eating smaller meals more often.

    "I feel a lot better," Bonser said during spring camp. "Everything feels a lot easier."

    TRANSACTION REPORT

  • June 2000: Bonser signed with the Giants for a bonus of $1.245 million after they drafted him in the first round. Alan Marr was the scout who signed Boof.

  • November 14, 2003: The Twins sent catcher A.J. Pierzyski and cash to the Giants, acquiring Bonser and pitchers Francisco Liriano and Joe Nathan.

  • December 10, 2009: The Red Sox sent RHP Chris Province to the Twins, acquiring Boof. They then signed Bonser to a one-year, $650,000 contract for 2010.

  • June 28, 2010: Boof chose free agency after clearing waivers with the Red Sox.

  • July 2, 2010: Bonser signed with the A's organization.

  • December 8, 2010: Boof signed with the Mets' organization.

  • June 27, 2013: The Giants released Bonser.

    June 30, 2013: The Indians signed Boof.

    August 2, 2013: The Indians released Bonser.

PERSONAL:
 

  • Boof's exploding four-seam FASTBALL is a hearty 92-95 mph. He also has a two-seamer that has good sink. His CURVEBALL is an excellent breaking pitch.

    Giants' minor league pitching coach Jerry Cram worked with Bonser on his CHANGEUP. In 2002, he worked on adding a SLIDER.

  • He has a good feel for spotting his pitches with real good command and a beautiful delivery.

  • Bonser goes right at hitters. He mixes his repertoire well, keeping the batter off balance. He is the pitcher you want on the mound in the important game. He's a competitor.

  • In 2001, Boof was the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year and was rated the loop's top prospect in a survey by Baseball America. He led the SAL in wins with 16.
  • He just needs to refine his breaking stuff and improve his overall command. He has to get ahead of hitters. Bonser gives up a lot of dingers. But with more quality pitches will come fewer balls that don't leave the ballpark.

    BREAKDOWN VS. RIGHTIES AND LEFTIES

  • In 2006, this righty pitcher held lefthanded hitters to a .251 average with 9 home runs in 183 at-bats, while righthanded batters hit .280 with 9 home runs in 207 at-bats.

    In 2007, Boof was hit hard by lefthanded batters (.349 with 16 home runs in 373 at-bats). But he held righthanded hitters to a .214 average with 11 home runs in 322 at-bats.

    In 2008, Bonser was nailed by lefthanded hitters to the tune of a .315 average and 8 home runs in 219 at-bats. Righthanded batters had a .260 average with 8 homers in 269 at-bats.

  • As of the start of the 2009 season, Bonser had a career record of 18-25 with a 5.12 ERA, having allowed 61 home runs and 442 hits in 392 innings.
PITCHING:
 

  • February 12, 2009: Bonser received a cortisone shot for a case of tendinitis.

    "I've never been hurt—never—and all of a sudden for something like this to happen, it's kind of frustrating," Bonser said. "Really frustrating, I guess you could say. I've always been ready for Spring Training and always ready to throw. Now I have this little setback."

    Just over a week later, Boof underwent an MRI for a closer look at what was wrong.

    On February 25, 2009: Bonser had exploratory surgery on his shoulder by Rays’ team physician Dr. Koco Eaton. They found a torn labrum and torn rotator cuff in that right shoulder. Both tears were repaired with surgery.

    Bonser missed the entire 2009 season.

  • March 29-near the end of May, 2010: Boof spent the first two months of the 2010 season on the D.L.

  • April 13, 2011: It was announced Bonser was going to undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the season.

  • July 2-9, 2013: Bonser was on the D.L. the day after he pitched his first game for the Columbus Clippers.

    July 19-August 2, 2013: Boof was back on the D.L.
CAREER INJURY REPORT:
 
 
Last Updated 5/9/2019 7:31:00 PM. All contents © 2000 by Player Profiles. All rights reserved.