Bobby Bonilla will always be more known for the contract he signed with the New York Mets, of which he is still getting paid for today, but at his peak, he was a dynamic MVP contender whose best years were in Pittsburgh.
Bonilla was first signed by the Pirates as an Amateur Free Agent in 1981 but would be plucked by the White Sox in the 1986 Rule 5 Draft. After 75 Games, Bonilla was traded back to the Pirates, and the year after, he entered the season as the starting Third Baseman. Offensively, Bonilla was solid, earning a Silver Slugger and earning the trip to what would be four straight All-Star Games. Defensively, he struggled, and he was moved to Rightfield, joining Barry Bonds and Andy Van Slyke as one of the most potent trios in Baseball.
In 1990, Bonilla had 32 Home Runs and 120 RBI, won the Silver Slugger, and was second in MVP voting, coming in behind only Bonds. Bonilla was third for the MVP in 1991 (18 HR, 100 RBI, .302 BA) and was again a Silver Slugger. He would leave for the Mets afterward via free agency but would not produce what he did as a Pirate.
With Pittsburgh, Bonilla belted 114 Home Runs with 500 RBI with a .284 Batting Average.
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