Robert Bono
| IP | 352 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.449 |
| WHIP | 1.44 |
| BB/9 | 1.509 |
| SO/9 | 4.628 |
- Full name Robert L. Bono
- Born 12/12/1988 in Waterford, CT
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Waterford
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Drafted in the 11th round (351st overall) by the Houston Astros in 2007 (signed for $105,000).
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His arm is his best asset, and most scouts like him better on the mound, where he runs his fastball into the 89-91 range and spins a decent breaking ball. But Bono, a baseball rat, wants to catch. He has promise as a receiver, though his bat lags considerably behind. He has some bat speed and line-drive power, but he has a tentative approach and doesn't trust his hands. He's likely to play both ways at Connecticut.
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Most teams thought Bono wanted to catch and figured he'd play both ways while attending Connecticut. But the Astros took him in the 12th round and gave him a $105,000 bonus to convince him to pitch. Though Bono didn't exactly put up big numbers in his pro debut, Houston knew he would be a work in progress. His fastball sits at 89-91 mph and tops out at 94. He works from a three-quarters arm slot and has a surprisingly clean delivery for someone who just became a full-time pitcher. Bono can flash a dastardly curveball, but he doesn't have much feel, command or consistency with the pitch. He has also begun messing around with a slider. He actually has made more progress with his changeup than with his breaking pitches. Bono will need a lot of time to add some polish, but he's unquestionably one of Houston's better hopes from its disappointing 2007 drat. He may not be ready for a full-season assignment at the start of 2008.
