Brian Bogusevic

Brian Thomas Bogusevic

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 3", Weight 215 lb.
• School Tulane University
• High School De La Salle Institute
• Debut September 1, 2010
• Final Game October 3, 2015
• Born February 18, 1984 in Oak Lawn, IL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Brian Bogusevic was selected by the Houston Astros in the first round of the 2005 amateur draft. Originally beginning his professional career as a pitcher, he was signed by scout Mike Rosamond for a $1.375 million bonus and made his pro debut that summer. With the Tri-City ValleyCats, he went 0-2 with a 7.59 ERA. He returned to the Valley Cats to begin the next season, posting a 4.09 ERA in 3 starts. He was then promoted to the Lexington Legends, where he went 2-5 with a 4.73 ERA in 17 starts. He continued to pitch in the Astros' organization until 2008, going 10-8, 4.61 in 27 starts at two levels in 2007, and then 2-6, 5.50 in 17 starts for the Corpus Christi Hooks of the AA Texas League in 2008. After getting only 2 plate appearances from 2005 to 2007, the Astros began to give Bogusevic's bat a shot in 2008, letting him play the outfield on days he was not pitching in Corpus Christi.

It was a revelation. He went 46 for 124, good for a .371 average with 21 runs scored and 20 RBI. He was sent down to Class A Salem to get more playing time as an outfielder at the end of the year, but hit only .217 in 8 games, although with good power. The Astros liked what they saw and, in 2009, he jumped all the way to AAA Round Rock as a full-time outfielder. In spite of his lack of professional hitting experience, he batted .271/.342/.365 in 128 games. He returned to Round Rock in 2010, improving to .277/.364/.414, hitting 26 doubles and 13 homers in 131 games and scoring 91 runs. He was outstanding on the base paths, stealing 23 bases in 24 attempts and was a midseason All-Star in the Pacific Coast League. That solid performance earned him a September call up to the big leagues.

Bogusevic made his major league debut on September 1, 2010 for Houston against the St. Louis Cardinals, pinch-hitting for pitcher Nelson Figueroa in the 5th inning. He reached base on a fielder's choice, then stole second base and scored on Hunter Pence's home run as the Astros won, 5-2. Two days later, he collected his first major league hit, a pinch double off the Arizona Diamondbacks' Blaine Boyer and again came in to score. He was only 5 for 28 that first season, but spent most of 2011 with the Astros, as a pinch-hitter and backup outfielder. He saw his most playing time in 2012, logging action in 146 games, with a meager slash line of .203/.297/.299 coupled with 7 home runs and 28 RBI. That performance earned him an outright off the 40 man roster and free agency. Brian caught on with the Chicago Cubs on a minor league deal for 2013. Following a torrid start with Triple A Iowa, he found his way back to the bigs, batting .273 with 6 homers and 16 RBI in 47 games. After the season, he was dealt to the Miami Marlins for Justin Ruggiano, seeing no big league time after being designated for assignment at the end of spring training. He made it back with a 22-game look with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015 before departing for Japan and the Orix Buffaloes. It was a struggle in NPB, hitting a mere .187 in 60 games. He was the starting right fielder for Team USA in the 2015 Pan American Games, hitting .241/.372/.379 with 6 walks and 6 runs in 8 games for the Silver Medal winners; he fielded .941 with two assists. Following a stint with Triple A Pawtucket for the Boston Red Sox in 2017, he called it a career.

Related Sites

• Brian Bogusevic on mlb.com
• TU bio