Caleb Bonemer stole 29 bases in 37 attempts over 107 games played mostly with Kannapolis in 2025, but he's just 16-for-21 over 114 games this year, and there are a few reasons for the drop in activity.
- More experienced batteries are harder to exploit.
- Speed isn't supposed to be a big part of his game, so it reduces top prospect wear and tear.
- He's doing so much damn trotting.
After hitting 12 homers and 46 extra-base hits in 2025, Bonemer is now up to 34 homers and 63 extra-base hits and going 3-for-3 with a three-run blast and a pair of doubles against Rocket City on Tuesday night.
Bonemer is now hitting .274/.393/.587 with the Barons, so yeah, he won't be a 30/30 threat if he keeps that up. Still, the White Sox will spend the rest of the season exploring other opportunities to put Thick McRunfast to use by not only playing him in the outfield, but center field.
“We talked to him about playing some outfield. We brought it up to him last week and he was super open about it,” White Sox assistant general manager Josh Barfield told MLB.com Monday. “By no means is he no longer an infielder. We see this as adding another tool in his bag. And he’s super athletic. He’s capable of doing it.”
Barfield visited Bonemer with the Barons this past weekend and saw the right-handed hitter launch three homers in four games. Doug Sisson, a special assistant to general manager Chris Getz, was also with the team last week, and worked pregame with Bonemer on reads and other outfield things, while he was also getting his work done in the infield.
After getting some run in center field through the Barons’ season finale on Sept. 13, Bonemer will join Glendale as part of the Arizona Fall League to continue working defensively in both areas.
Charlotte 8, Memphis 2
- Edgar Quero caught, going 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.
- Kyle Teel DH'd in his first rehab game, going 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Ryan Galanie was 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Drew Thorpe: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 53 of 87 pitches for strikes.
- Chris Murphy's first rehab game: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 14 of 25 pitches for strikes.
Birmingham 11, Rocket City 8
- Caleb Bonemer had a perfect night at DH with homer, two doubles and two walks.
- Anthony DePino singled, walked twice, struck out twice and stole a base.
- Colby Shelton was 1-for-3 with a walk, strikeout and stolen base.
- Ryan Burrowes went 1-for-5 with a homer and two strikeouts.
- James Taussig homered, singled and struck out thrice.
- Samuel Zavala singled twice and walked twice.
- Juan Carela: 5 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 50 of 79 pitches for strikes.
Notes:
*The Barons now pulled even with Rocket City at 27-25, a half-game behind Knoxville.
Winston-Salem 8, Bowling Green 3
- Javier Mogollón went 4-for-5, and was picked off/caught stealing.
- Kyle Lodise went 1-for-3 with homer, two walks and a stolen base.
- George Wolkow was 1-for-5 with a double and two strikeouts.
- Jeral Perez, 1-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Nick McLain homered, doubled, walked and struck out.
Notes:
*The Dash and Hot Rods are now tied atop the South Atlantic League North at 29-25, 2½ games ahead of Greenville.
Hill City 7, Kannapolis 6
- Jaden Fauske went 2-for-5 with a stolen base.
- Matthew Boughton was 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Abraham Nunez made his first appearance since June 13, going 1-for-5 with a double and a strikeout.
- Alexander Albertus homered, singled, walked and struck out twice.
- Blaine Wynk: 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 35 of 47 pitches for strikes.
