Busy Bonilla plays all nine positions
The Mariners prospect suited up and played all nine positions Monday afternoon in Double-A West Tenn's season finale, homering and pitching a scoreless inning as the Diamond Jaxx blanked the Chattanooga Lookouts, 8-0.
Perhaps an ode to Minor League veteran Mike Hessman, who played all nine one night at the end of the 2009 season with Triple-A Toledo, Bonilla did it Monday and came out a winner. The 24-year-old is officially listed as a third baseman, although he played every position at one point this season, including two other pitching appearances.
The Dominican infielder began the game in center field and played left and right over the first three innings before moving to second in the fourth. He moved to shortstop in the fifth, third in the sixth and walked across the diamond to first in the seventh.
The real test began in the eighth when he jumped behind the plate and caught reliever Aaron Jensen's scoreless inning -- the right-hander struck out two.
Bonilla, who pitched a scoreless inning June 17 after allowing five runs in a frame May 11, had his best outing of the year on the mound, striking out one and allowing one hit in the ninth to finish off the shutout.
He finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs, including a solo shot in the first, his seventh homer of the year.
Bonilla, who hit in almost every spot in the lineup this year, saw the majority of his at-bats this summer as the Jaxx's center fielder. He appeared in two games at first, two behind the plate, 13 at short and 19 at second, among others.
Bonilla will be the last Diamond Jaxx player to manage the feat. After the game, the team announced it will be returning to an old moniker, the "Jackson Generals" for the 2011 season.