Boof Bonser

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #25 prospect in 2006
  Considering the stunning rise of Francisco Liriano, it's hard to remember that Bonser was actually the hotter prospect in November 2003. That's when those two came to the Twins along with Joe Nathan in a package that netted A.J. Pierzynski for the Giants. The reversal of fortune is something that must be monitored with Bonser, who has a tendency to mope at times. To his credit, he put together a strong full season in Triple-A last year, anchoring a Rochester staff that saw Liriano and Scott Baker pass through on their way to the majors. Bonser didn't even rate a September callup, but Minnestoa was pleased with his work ethic and the commitment he showed toward improving a lumpy body. He pitches at 89-92 mph, down from the mid-90s range he reached earlier in his career. Bonser, who legally changed his name from John to Boof while in high school, still has a tendency to give up homers. But he has learned to keep hitters off balance by changing speeds and using his plus curveball and decent changeup. He has a ceiling as a back-of-the-rotation starter but likely will break into the majors this year as a middle reliever.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #25 prospect in 2005
  Bonser was one of the Giants' top pitching prospects when they included him in the A.J. Pierzynski trade in November 2003. With the Twins, his profile dropped dramatically, and he moped somewhat about that in the early going last year. After giving up far too many home runs in the first half, Bonser turned it on down the stretch and won his final eight decisions. He also earned a late promotion to Triple-A, where he'll likely start out in 2005. Bonser, who legally changed his name from John in high school, pitches at 89-92 mph but no longer hits the mid-90s as he did earlier in his pro career. Part of that is due to his Rick Reuschelesque frame, which usually carries 250-260 pounds. In the latter part of 2004, Bonser did a better job of keeping the ball down and changing speeds to set up his fastball. He has shown a plus curve in the past but still needs work on his changeup. His concentration and location need sharpening as well. He projects as a back-end-of-the-rotation option but could wind up as a long reliever.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #17 prospect in 2004
  Bonser easily would have made our Giants Top 10 Prospects list before he was dealt along with Joe Nathan and live-armed Francisco Liriano for all-star catcher A.J. Pierzynski in November. His status on this list speaks more to the depth of the Twins system than the way they feel about him. Bonser, who legally changed his name from John to Boof in high school, made encouraging progress in 2003. After earning a promotion to Triple-A Fresno, he continued to impress with his repertoire in the Arizona Fall League despite a 6.07 ERA there. Bonser's fastball isn't overpowering at 89-92 mph, though he has shown mid-90s heat in the past. His breaking ball has been vital to his development, and he has started to flash plus curveballs with tight, biting rotation on a more consistent basis. Now he needs to hone his changeup to remain a starter. Bonser will get an opportunity to make the Rochester rotation. With the back of Minnesota's rotation open for competition, he should garner some major league time in 2004.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #6 prospect in 2003
  The owner of one of the best names in baseball, Bonser officially changed his name from John to Boof after his childhood nickname stuck. A bit of a surprise as the 21st overall pick in 2000, Bonser justified his selection by winning most valuable pitcher and top prospect recognition in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2001. He struggled when rushed to Double-A to start last season and had to be demoted to work on his secondary pitches. Bonser showed a mid-90s fastball that was enough to dominate at Hagerstown, but it dropped to the low 90s last year at high Class A San Jose. Though he still must refine his curveball and changeup, they show promise. He has been unhittable as a pro, limiting opponents to a .203 average while averaging 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings. Bonser got pounded at Double-A because he couldn't throw his curve or changeup for strikes. He answered questions about his maturity and work ethic in 2001, but the Giants think he expected things to come too easily to him last season. Bonser still needs a lot of improvement on his pitches and command to reach his high ceiling, so it wouldn't be a shock if he started 2003 back in high Class A. He should reach the Giants' new Double-A Norwich affiliate by the end of the year.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #2 prospect in 2002
  Bonser officially changed his name from John to Boof, a childhood nickname that stuck, last offseason. Don't let that fool you, though--the Giants point to increased maturity as the biggest reason Bonser was named the low Class A South Atlantic League's No. 1 prospect in 2001. Maturity and talent are his strengths. Bonser maintained a 92-95 mph fastball throughout his first full pro season. He can run two-seamers that sink or pitch up in the zone with a four-seamer. The other improvement Bonser made was throwing his curveball more consistently, which came with improved, smooth mechanics. He ate up righthanders, who batted just .179 against him. Bonser will have to take care of his big, strong body, but his work ethic has eased any weight concerns. He has the makings of a good changeup, though he didn't need to use it much while he overpowered Sally League hitters with two plus pitches. Because the Giants have the likes of Williams and Kurt Ainsworth ahead of him, Bonser won't have to be rushed through the system. The poster child for the organization's successful move to low Class A, Bonser will step up to high Class A San Jose in 2002.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #11 prospect in 2001
  First off, he was born John Bonser, though everyone calls him Boof, a nickname his mother and friends used to toss around that just stuck with him. Considered a first-round arm with a late-round body by many scouts as a junior, Bonser dropped 30 pounds prior to his senior season in high school by sharing a personal trainer with hot 2001 draft prospect Casey Kotchman. Kotchman's father Tom, an Angels scout and minor league manager, says Bonser's weight problem was magnified to scouts by his high school and summer league uniforms, which made him look like he was in poor shape. The Giants must have seen him in better uniforms, because they liked his power arm enough to surprise many clubs by taking him with the 21st overall pick. Bonser has the power arm the Giants covet, touching 96 mph with his fastball in the Northwest League. One of the league's youngest players, he lacked command and, at times, composure. But he also showed a good curveball and solid straight changeup. With his repertoire, his role down the line could be as a closer.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked California League #7 prospect in 2002
  On the heels of a tremendous 16-4, 2.49 campaign in low Class A last year, Bonser was aggressively promoted to Double-A at the start of 2002. After it became apparent he wasn't ready to compete at that level, the Giants relented and he rebounded in San Jose. Bonser's delivery got out of whack during his five-start stint in Shreveport, and it took him a few starts to get back in sync. He didn't match the mid-90s heat he showed off in 2001, but he sat comfortably at 90-91 mph. He's making progress with his curveball, changeup and command.
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #1 prospect in 2001
  As a teenager Bonser was dominant, leading the SAL in wins and earning most valuable pitcher honors. His fastball hit the mid-90s and he showed much better command than during his short-season struggles the previous summer. He went 1-4, 6.00 with 29 walks in 33 innings in the Northwest League in 2000 after the Giants drafted him in the first round. There was little doubt about his curveball when he came out of high school, but both his breaking pitch and changeup improved. Managers loved his work ethic as he pushed himself to stay in superb condition, shedding both pounds and a bad-body rap with a rigorous workout program. "He has such a good arm," Charleston, W.Va., manager Rolando Pino said. "You can see he has a strong body. Boof's a great competitor and we saw his breaking ball continue to get better." "I like Boof a lot," Kannapolis manager Razor Shines said. "He's a power pitcher but a good offspeed pitcher too. What's not to like about that?"
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  Ranked Northwest League #11 prospect in 2000
  Like Torres, Bonser was a rare high school draftee thrust into a college league. Unlike Torres, he didn't thrive, lacking some of Torres' offspeed acumen and some of his composure as well. Still, Bonser's 91-95 mph fastball was the quickest in the league, and for the most part he handled himself well against superior competition. "He has a good curveball and a decent straight change considering he didn't have to use it in high school," Stanley said. "This was a great learning experience for him." Kotchman, whose son Casey (a top 2001 draft prospect) shared a personal trainer with Bonser in the spring, said Bonser's ceiling is high if he keeps his body under control. "His role down the line is as a closer," he said. "He'll have to develop some offspeed stuff, but at 6-foot-4, 220, the rap on him was his body. He's made an effort to improve and he needs to keep doing that."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #29 prospect in 2002

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Like Torres, Bonser was a rare high school draftee thrust into a college league. Unlike Torres, he didn't thrive, lacking some of Torres' offspeed acumen and some of his composure as well. Still, Bonser's 91-95 mph fastball was the quickest in the league, and for the most part he handled himself well against superior competition. "He has a good curveball and a decent straight change considering he didn't have to use it in high school," Stanley said. "This was a great learning experience for him." Kotchman, whose son Casey (a top 2001 draft prospect) shared a personal trainer with Bonser in the spring, said Bonser's ceiling is high if he keeps his body under control. "His role down the line is as a closer," he said. "He'll have to develop some offspeed stuff, but at 6-foot-4, 220, the rap on him was his body. He's made an effort to improve and he needs to keep doing that."