In all likelihood, Emilio Bonifacio is more Chris Shelton or Tuffy Rhodes than Bob Feller.Entering the 2009 season, Bonifacio had a .300 on-base percentage in 213 career plate appearances in the major leagues. In six seasons at the minor-league level, Bonifacio had a .703 OPS. Put another way: Other than his blazing speed, he's given talent evaluators no reason to think he'd be anything more than a utility player in the big leagues.
But for one day, at least, he was a shining star.
Bonifacio, plopped into the Marlins' leadoff spot coming out of camp with superstar shortstop Hanley Ramirez moving down to the No. 3 hole, did it all as Florida opened the season with a 12-6 drubbing of the Nationals. He went 4-for-5, drove in two runs, stole three bases and capped his 2009 debut off with an inside-the-park home run.
(Fun fact: The last player to hit an inside-the-parker on Opening Day was Carl Yastrzemski on April 10, 1968.)
Perhaps the most surreal part of it all? Bonifacio, in the words of Dante Hicks, wasn't even supposed to be here today. Acquired this winter from the Nationals in the trade that sent Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham to Washington, he was supposed to be a castoff capable of filling in for Ramirez and Dan Uggla in the middle of the infield. No one, other than maybe a few folks in the Florida front office, saw him as a regular at the hot corner.
Scenes From Opening Day
St. Louis Cardinals' Skip Schumaker, left, jogs across the field as he is introduced along with the rest of his team before the start of an Opening Day baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates Monday, April 6, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Jeff Roberson, AP
Former President George W. Bush throws out the season opening first pitch with Nolan Ryan looking on before the baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.
Tony Gutierrez, AP
The grounds crew runs across the infield to spread a tarp as it starts to rain at Fenway Park during a practice after opening day was postponed due to the weather in Boston, Monday April 6, 2009. The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Charles Krupa, AP
A general view of the pregame festivities before the Philadelphia Phillies game against the Atlanta Braves on April 5, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today's game is the opening of the 2009 major league baseball season.
Ezra Shaw, Getty Images
Cameron Dallas, 10, front, and her dad Jay Dallas, of Mansfield, bundle up to stay warm before Opening Day as the Cleveland Indians play the Texas Rangers at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.
Max Faulkner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram / MCT
Arizona Diamondbacks' Stephen Drew, right, slides safely under the tag of Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta during the third inning of an MLB baseball game Monday, April 6, 2009 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Matt York, AP
Cleveland Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach, left, looks back after grabbing the throw to see Texas Rangers' Marlon Byrd (22) sliding safely home in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009. Byrd and Hank Blalock scored on an RBI single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Tony Gutierrez, AP
Groundskeeper Angel Avila carries shoveled snow off the field at US Cellular Field after the Chicago White Sox's home opener baseball game against the Kansas City Royals was postponed until Tuesday due to snow in Chicago, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Led by pitcher Jamie Moyer, the Philadelphia Phillies are greeted as they pass through two rows of fans in center field during opening night ceremonies before the start an MLB baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, April 5, 2009, in Philadelphia.
Tom Mihalek, AP
And yet, there he was Monday, flashing leather and tormenting Washington's woeful pitching staff every time he reached base. He beat out Dallas McPherson, who hit 42 home runs at Triple-A in 2008, and Gaby Sanchez, a well-regarded first base prospect who had a .917 OPS in Double-A last year, for a starting job in the Marlins infield.
As unlikely as his ascent to the top of the Marlins' order was, he made Florida's decision-makers look brilliant -- at least for now.
Maybe Bonifacio will blossom into something special. Maybe, he'll make the very same Nationals fans who watched their team get burned by him on Opening Day curse ex-GM Jim Bowden for ever trading him in the first place. It certainly wouldn't be the first time the Marlins have uncovered a diamond in the rough.
Or maybe, as I suspect, Bonifacio will regress to the level of performance he's shown for most of his professional career, forcing him down manager Fredi Gonzalez's batting order or out of it entirely if his glove is unable to make up for his bat.
That's the beauty of the beginning of the baseball season: We just don't know.
