Emilio Bonifacio
Encyclopedia
Emilio Jose Bonifacio Del Rosario (born April 23, 1985) is a Dominican
professional baseball
3rd baseman with the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball
in the United States
. He played in his first Major League game on September 1, 2007 when he was called up by the Arizona Diamondbacks
. He is from Santo Domingo
, Dominican Republic
.
for pitcher
Jon Rauch
and was optioned to Triple-A Columbus
.
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 Gonzalez
. Bonifacio went 1 for 4, with an RBI
, run
, and a stolen base
.
On November 11, 2008 he was traded to the Florida Marlins for left fielder
Josh Willingham
and pitcher
Scott Olsen
. On March 31, 2009 the Marlins announced that he would be their starting third baseman for the season. 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
.
In 2009 he had the lowest OPS
of any starter in the major leagues, at .611.
The Marlins decided to option Bonifacio to the minors in 2010 after Spring Training.
On May 1, 2011, he hit his first outside the park home run, in a game against the Cincinnati Reds
. In addition, his 2011 start has already been much more memorable than those in previous seasons.
Bonifacio is currently the starting 3rd basemen for the Florida Marlins, had a 26 game hitting streak at a hit in 30 of 31 games. Bonifacio won Player of the Month
for the National League in July of 2011.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
3rd baseman with the Miami Marlins 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He played in his first Major League game on September 1, 2007 when he was called up by the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. He is from Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
.
Major League career
On July 22, 2008, he was traded from the Diamondbacks to the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
for 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...
Jon Rauch
Jon Rauch
Jon Erich Rauch is a right-handed relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. At 6' 11" , he is the tallest player in Major League Baseball history. He is also an Olympic Gold Medalist.-Early years:...
and was optioned to Triple-A Columbus
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
.
Bonifacio was called up to the majors (he played for the South Bend Silver Hawks
South Bend Silver Hawks
The South Bend Silver Hawks are a U.S. Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks, that plays in the Midwest League....
before he entered the majors. the Nationals on August 1, along with fellow middle infielder Alberto Gonzalez
Alberto Gonzalez (baseball)
Alberto Ramón González is a Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman who is currently a free agent.-Minor leagues:...
. Bonifacio went 1 for 4, with an RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, and a stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
.
On November 11, 2008 he was traded to the Florida Marlins for left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Josh Willingham
Josh Willingham
Joshua David Willingham is an American Major League Baseball left fielder. He has played for the Florida Marlins, Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics.-Early years:...
and 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...
Scott Olsen
Scott Olsen
Scott Matthew Olsen is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who is a free agent.-Early life:Olsen was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan...
. On March 31, 2009 the Marlins announced that he would be their starting third baseman for the season. Bonifacio hit his first home run on April 6, 2009, an inside the park home run on opening day against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. This home run marked the first time in forty-one years that an inside the park home run was hit on Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
; the last being hit in 1968 by Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
.
In 2009 he had the lowest OPS
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
of any starter in the major leagues, at .611.
The Marlins decided to option Bonifacio to the minors in 2010 after Spring Training.
On May 1, 2011, he hit his first outside the park home run, in a game against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. In addition, his 2011 start has already been much more memorable than those in previous seasons.
Bonifacio is currently the starting 3rd basemen for the Florida Marlins, had a 26 game hitting streak at a hit in 30 of 31 games. Bonifacio won Player of the Month
Player of the Month
The Player of the Month Award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league every month of the regular season. The National League started recognizing the award on June 4, 1958. National League president Warren Giles conducted a poll of baseball writers in each Major League city and...
for the National League in July of 2011.