Lisalverto Bonilla

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #29 prospect in 2015
  The Phillies signed Bonillla when he was 18 in December 2008, then almost exactly four years later traded him to the Rangers to acquire Michael Young. With experience as a starter and a reliever, Bonilla sits at 90-93 mph and touches 95, though his fastball lost a little life last year. He flashes a plus changeup at 83-86 mph that generates most of his swings and misses and a slider that vacillates between below-average to average. Bonilla's strikeout rate backed up to its lowest clip in the last three seasons in 2014, but he still recorded more than a strikeout per inning at Triple-A. He is a steady strike-thrower, though he had some trouble finding the strike zone once he got to Texas. The Rangers plan to have Bonilla compete for the No. 5 starter spot in 2015, but many scouts think he fits best in the bullpen.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #20 prospect in 2014
  The Phillies signed Bonilla as an 18-year-old in December 2008, putting him on the older end of the spectrum for a Dominican signing. He moved steadily through the system, reaching Double-A as a reliever in 2012 before Philadelphia traded him and righthander Josh Lindblom to the Rangers in exchange for Michael Young and cash after the season. In his first year with the Rangers in 2013, Bonilla was nearly unhittable the first half at Double-A Frisco, but when he got to Triple-A Round Rock his command deserted him and he made too many mistakes, which he paid for in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Despite his second-half struggles, Bonilla has the attributes to be a high-leverage reliever, as he averaged 13.0 strikeouts per nine innings in 2013 and generates grounders at a high clip. Bonilla pitches off his 92-96 mph fastball and misses plenty of bats with a plus changeup, though his slider remains below-average. The deception in his delivery keeps hitters uncomfortable, though his mechanics have some effort and he finishes with a head whack, while his long arm action can impede his command. Bonilla most likely returns to Round Rock to open 2014, but he should make his major league debut at some point during the season.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #31 prospect in 2013
  An unheralded international signing by the Phillies in 2008 at 18 years old, Bonilla burst on the scene in 2011 and appeared on the fast track in 2012 before being sidelined for the balance of the year. He needed surgery to repair a small broken bone in his right hand, after he injured it horsing around with teammates the day before the 2012 Futures Game. Bonilla missed the rest of Double-A Reading's regular season but made up for lost time in the Dominican League, where he appeared healthy. He also piqued the interest of the Rangers, who acquired him and big league reliever Josh Lindblom in the December trade that shipped Michael Young to Philadelphia. Bonilla showed potential as a starter two years ago, but the Phillies moved him back into a relief role last year and he thrived. With his 92-96 mph fastball that has picked up velocity out of the bullpen and his changeup, Bonilla has a pair of plus-plus pitches. He has worked to develop a slider that has above-average flashes but is inconsistent. Wiry and athletic, Bonilla has a clean delivery, though there's some effort involved. He could contribute in Texas in 2013 after moving to Triple-A, with at least a chance to develop into a high-leverage reliever.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #12 prospect in 2012
  Bonilla hadn't made much noise since he was an unheralded international signing in 2008, He joined Lakewood last May and moved into the rotation a month later when an injury created an opening. He responded by exceeding expectations and rocketing up the list of Phillies pitching prospects. With a loose, quick arm, Bonilla has a 91-94 mph fastball that touches 95. Philadelphia initially was reluctant to use him as a starter because it wanted him to pitch off his fastball with greater frequency and not rely as much on his plus 82-84 mph changeup. At times he went entire outings without using the changeup, which diminished his effectiveness but helped his development. Bonilla's 78-82 mph slider grades out as fringy now but shows flashes of being a swing-and-miss pitch. Wiry and athletic, he has a smooth delivery, though there's a slight head wag and some recoil at the end of his release. Depending on the development of his slider, Bonilla has a chance to be a mid-rotation starter, but he could also serve as a late-inning reliever. He'll advance to high Class A in 2012.

• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  The Phillies signed Bonillla when he was 18 in December 2008, then almost exactly four years later traded him to the Rangers to acquire Michael Young. With experience as a starter and a reliever, Bonilla sits at 90-93 mph and touches 95, though his fastball lost a little life last year. He flashes a plus changeup at 83-86 mph that generates most of his swings and misses and a slider that vacillates between below-average to average. Bonilla's strikeout rate backed up to its lowest clip in the last three seasons in 2014, but he still recorded more than a strikeout per inning at Triple-A. He is a steady strike-thrower, though he had some trouble finding the strike zone once he got to Texas. The Rangers plan to have Bonilla compete for the No. 5 starter spot in 2015, but many scouts think he fits best in the bullpen.