Emilio Bonifacio

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Bonifacio and the second or maternal family name is Del Rosario.
Emilio Bonifacio

Bonifacio with the Chicago White Sox
Free agent
Utility player
Born: (1985-04-23) April 23, 1985
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 2007, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average .258
Hits 664
Home runs 13
Runs batted in 162
Stolen bases 166
Teams

Emilio Jose Bonifacio Del Rosario (born April 23, 1985) is a Dominican professional baseball utility player who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals, Florida/Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, the Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox. Primarily a second baseman and center fielder throughout his career, Bonifacio has also played shortstop and third base.

Major League career

Arizona Diamondbacks

He played in his first Major League game on September 2, 2007, when he was called up by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Washington Nationals

On July 22, 2008, he was traded from the Diamondbacks to the Washington Nationals for pitcher Jon Rauch and was optioned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.

Bonifacio was called up to the majors (he played for the South Bend Silver Hawks before he entered the majors). the Nationals on August 1, along with fellow middle infielder Alberto González. Bonifacio went 1 for 4, with an RBI, run, and a stolen base.

Bonifacio batting for the Florida Marlins in 2009 spring training

Florida/Miami Marlins

On November 11, 2008, he was traded to the Florida Marlins for left fielder Josh Willingham and pitcher Scott Olsen.[1] On March 31, 2009, the Marlins announced that he would be their starting third baseman for the season.[2] Bonifacio hit his first home run on April 6, 2009, an inside-the-park home run on opening day against the Washington Nationals. This home run marked the first time in forty-one years that an inside-the-park home run was hit on Opening Day; the last being hit in 1968 by Carl Yastrzemski.[3]

On May 1, 2011, he hit his first outside the park home run, in a game against the Cincinnati Reds.

He had a 26-game hitting streak and a hit in 30 of 31 games during July 2011, the same month he won Player of the Month for the National League.

During the beginning of the 2012 season, Bonifacio led the major league in stolen bases, was safe in his first 20 attempts. However, on May 21, he was placed on the disabled list after injuring his left thumb trying to steal second base; it was the first time he was caught stealing. Although he was placed on a 15-day DL, he was expected to miss at least 4–6 weeks. Bonifacio was activated on July 13, and replaced teammate Giancarlo Stanton, who went to the disabled list after having surgery on his right knee. He returned to the lineup against the Washington Nationals and went 0-3. On September 4, 2012, Bonifacio was knocked out for the rest of the 2012 season due to a right knee sprain.

Toronto Blue Jays

Bonifacio playing for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013

On November 19, 2012, Bonifacio was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays along with Josh Johnson, José Reyes, John Buck, and Mark Buehrle, in exchange for Jeff Mathis, Adeiny Hechavarria, Henderson Álvarez, Yunel Escobar, Jake Marisnick, Anthony DeSclafani, and Justin Nicolino.[4] On January 18, 2013, it was announced that the Blue Jays had avoided arbitration with Bonifacio, signing him to a one-year contract worth $2.6 million.[5] Bonifacio opened the season as Toronto's second baseman, but he also got time in the outfield at the start of the season, mainly when Maicer Izturis, the opening day third baseman, would play second base. Through April, Izturis had more starts at second base than Bonifacio. After the Opening Day shortstop José Reyes was injured and replacement Munenori Kawasaki struggled, Izturis got more time at shortstop, giving Bonifacio the bulk of the starts at second base in May and June, with Mark DeRosa also getting starts at second. Bonifacio was used more off the bench in July after slumping to a .203 start with 51 strikeouts through the first 3 months of the season. He was used at left field more when Melky Cabrera hurt his knee on August 1, and he also got time at center field when Colby Rasmus hurt his oblique on August 11. In 94 games with the Blue Jays, he hit .218 with 3 HR, 20 RBI and 66 strikeouts.

Kansas City Royals

On August 14, 2013, Bonifacio was traded to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash or a player to be named later.[6] Bonifacio recorded his 500th career hit on August 17, 2013. Bonifacio was used mostly at second base with the Royals in 2013, but also saw time at third base and center field. In 42 games with the Royals in 2013, he hit .285 with 8 XBH, 11 RBI and 21 runs. Overall in 2013 (136 games), he hit .243 with 3 HR, 31 RBI, 54 runs, 103 strikeouts. Due to Bonifacios outstanding speed in 2013, Emilio stole 28 bases in 36 attempts (CS: 8).[7] He was designated for assignment on February 1, 2014,[8] and released on February 12.[9]

Chicago Cubs

Bonifacio was signed to a minor league contract by the Chicago Cubs on February 15, 2014.[10] On March 30, 2014, the Cubs announced that he had made the opening day roster.[11] Bonifacio hit his first home run as a Cub on June 7, snapping the longest homer-less streak of any active player, excluding pitchers.

Atlanta Braves

On July 31, 2014, Bonifacio was traded along with James Russell to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for catching prospect Víctor Caratini.[12]

Chicago White Sox

On January 8, 2015, Bonifacio signed a one-year, $4 million, contract with the Chicago White Sox.[13] He was placed on the disabled list on July 29, and reinstated on August 14.[14] Bonifacio was designated for assignment on August 16, 2015[15] and released two days later.

Second stint with the Cubs

On August 25, 2015, Bonifacio signed a minor league contract to return to the Cubs.[16]

Second stint with the Braves

On December 18, 2015, Bonifacio signed a one-year contract worth $1.25 million to return to the Atlanta Braves.[17] The team designated him for assignment on April 2, 2016 and he was officially released on April 6.[18] The Braves resigned Bonifacio to a minor league contract on April 10, 2016.[19] The Braves purchased his contract on May 1. However, Bonifacio was not eligible for a call up until May 7, as Major League Baseball ruled that the team had to wait thirty days after Bonifacio's release date of April 6 to recall him.[20] Bonifacio was designated him for assignment for the second time on July 7.[21]

Personal

His younger brother, Jorge Bonifacio, also plays professional baseball.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Molony, Jim (November 11, 2008). "Nats get Olsen, Willingham from Marlins". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Bonifacio to start at third for Marlins". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 31, 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Bonifacio's inside-the-park HR leads Marlins past Nationals". USA Today. Associated Press. April 7, 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  4. ↑ "MLB approves mega-deal between Blue Jays and Marlins". TSN.ca. November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Blue Jays avoid arbitration with Happ, Bonifacio, Thole". TSN.ca. January 18, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  6. ↑ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (August 14, 2013). "Royals acquire utility player Bonifacio". Sportsnet. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  7. ↑ http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=466988#gameType=%27R%27
  8. ↑ "Royals sign veteran left-handed pitcher Bruce Chen". Kansas City Royals. February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  9. ↑ Gleeman, Aaron (February 12, 2014). "Royals release Emilio Bonifacio, eat a half-million bucks". Hardball Talk. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  10. ↑ Rogers, Jesse (February 15, 2014). "Cubs sign Emilio Bonifacio". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Chicago Cubs set 2014 Opening Day roster". Chicago Cubs. March 30, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  12. ↑ Bowman, Mark (July 31, 2014). "Braves get Bonifacio, Russell in deal with Cubs". MLB.com. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  13. ↑ Merkin, Scott (January 8, 2015). "Bonifacio, White Sox agree to 1-year deal". MLB.com. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  14. ↑ Kruth, Cash (August 14, 2015). "White Sox reinstate Bonifacio, option L. Garcia". MLB.com. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  15. ↑ Merkin, Scott (August 16, 2015). "White Sox activate Shuck, designate Bonifacio". MLB.com. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Cubs bring back Bonifacio on a minor league deal". mlbtraderumors.com. August 25, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  17. ↑ Bowman, Mark (December 18, 2015). "Braves announce one-year deal with Bonifacio". MLB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  18. ↑ Bowman, Mark (April 2, 2016). "Braves regretfully cut Bourn; Bonifacio, too". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  19. ↑ Bowman, Mark (April 10, 2016). "Braves mulling over options at shortstop". MLB.com. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  20. ↑ Bowman, Mark (May 1, 2016). "Callup of Bonifacio delayed by technicality". MLB.com. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  21. ↑ Bowman, Mark (July 7, 2016). "Braves activate Beckham ahead of Cubs game". MLB.com. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  22. ↑ Dutton, Bob (October 5, 2013). "Royals' Kyle Zimmer, Jorge Bonifacio draw notice as top prospects". Kansas City Star. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
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