Lee Trawick
Reporter2@riverbendnews.org
Bo Bonds is a Suwannee High School (SHS) graduate and a member of the 2019 Bulldogs baseball Final Four team. Bonds dominated the high school ranks, where he graduated with an overall earned run average (ERA) of 1.73 over 157.2 innings, collecting 17 wins and an unprecedented 247 strikeouts over his career at SHS. On Tuesday, July 19, Bonds finally got the call he had been dreaming of as a young child. The Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 13th round of the Major League Draft.
Upon graduating, Bonds attended Chipola College on a baseball scholarship as a pitcher. During his career there, he caught the eye of Division I University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns. Bonds spent one season with the Ragin' Cajuns, where he posted a 3.11 Earned Run Average ERA over 55 innings while collecting 83 strikeouts. While having a solid career, one thing that stood out to the scouts in the professional ranks was how Bonds has proven to be a strikeout artist.
Bonds was born on Jan. 10, 2001, to Robin and Allen Bonds of Suwannee County. He grew up as any other kid did, by either playing rec baseball or hunting and fishing with his family and friends during his downtime.
Bonds realized early on that he had a passion and gift for baseball. Growing up watching his hometown Suwannee Bulldogs, he couldn't wait for his opportunity to wear the green and white under the lights at SHS. As a freshman, Bonds got his first opportunity, and he did not waste his chance. He pitched 24 innings for the Bulldogs with a 2-2 record in seven appearances, while collecting 33 strikeouts. After battling an injury in his sophomore year, Bonds returned in his junior year, where he amassed 104 strikeouts in only 59.1 innings. Then, as a senior, Bonds led the Bulldogs to their first Final Four appearance in over 50 years. Bonds posted an ERA of .94 with a 9-2 record with 110 strikeouts.
Upon signing with the Blue Jays, Bonds receives a signing bonus along with the rest of his college dues paid for, as well as the opportunity to rehab a shoulder injury through the Blue Jays organization.