Lisalverto Bonilla

Lisalverto Bonilla
formerly listed as Lisalberto

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.

• Debut September 4, 2014
• Final Game August 6, 2017

• Born June 18, 1990 in Samana, Samana D.R.

BR page

Biographical Information

Lisalverto Bonilla made his major league debut in 2014.

Bonilla signed with the Philadelphia Phillies at age 18; the scouts were Sal Agostinelli and Bernardo Perez; Koby Perez was also instrumental in his signing. He began his pro career with the 2009 DSL Phillies, going 6-2 with a 1.41 ERA, 76 strikeouts and only 48 hits in 70 innings. He led the DSL with two shutouts and was 9th in ERA. In 2010, he split time between the GCL Phillies (2-1, 1.95, 38 strikeouts to 5 walks in 32 1/3 innings) and Williamsport Crosscutters (1-3, 6.49). The next summer, he was 4-5 with four saves, a 2.80 ERA and .229 opponent average for the Lakewood BlueClaws. He began 2012 strong with the Clearwater Threshers (1-1, a save, 1.35, 18 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings) and Reading Phillies (2-1, 3 saves, 1.64, 22 hits, 46 strikeouts in 33 innings). He was picked for the World team in the 2012 Futures Game but did not appear, having suffered an injury in preparing for the game. He did not play again that season.

On December 9, 2012, he was traded to the Texas Rangers along with big league reliever Josh Lindblom in return for infielder Michael Young. After making his major league debut as a reliever for the Rangers on September 4, 2014, he picked up his first career win in his first start, on September 13th facing the Atlanta Braves. He gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in 6 innings to end up a 3-2 winner. When he defeated the Houston Astros, 5-1, on September 24th, he became the first pitcher in Rangers history to win his first three major league starts. But he never made another start in a Texas uniform. A shoulder impingement delayed the start of his 2015 season and an elbow injury suffered while rehabbing finished his year. He was claimed off waivers and signed to a minor league deal by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016, spending the full tilt in Triple A, and signed a big league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates for 2017. He was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds in February and made 10 big league appearances with them before drawing his release on September 1. He pitched with the Samsung Lions of the KBO in 2018 (7-10, 5.30) and in the Mexican League in 2019.

Source: 2012 Phillies Media Guide

Related Sites

• Lisalverto Bonilla on mlb.com
• BR Minors page