Josh Booty, who has yet to meet the expectations that came with a $1.6 million signing bonus, may be the Florida Marlins’ third baseman on Opening Day.
Booty, 22, is the front-runner for the job if Bobby Bonilla doesn’t recover from wrist surgery in time for the opener March 31, manager Jim Leyland said Friday.
“I would probably lean toward Booty,” Leyland said. “That isn’t etched in stone.”
“He has played a great third base every time I’ve seen him,” Leyland said.
Bonilla hasn’t swung a bat in spring training and said he may return as late as May 1.
Booty was one of the nation’s most highly touted prep quarterbacks in Louisiana before signing with the Marlins as their first-round draft choice in 1994. He spent most of his time in the minors at Kane County, though he made brief appearances with the Marlins in 1996 and 1997, going 4 for 7 (.571). But he hit just .210 last year at Double-A Portland with 166 strikeouts in 448 at-bats.
Booty is batting .200 this spring with five strikeouts.
