Bones was signed by the Padres as an amateurfree agent on May 13, 1986, making his MLB debut on August 11, 1991, against the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched seven innings, allowed only 2 hits, and received his first professional victory.
On March 26, 1992, Bones was traded with Matt Mieske and José Valentín to the Milwaukee Brewers for Gary Sheffield and minor league player Geoff Kellogg. He stayed with the Brewers for more than 4 seasons. During that time, he was elected to the American League All-Star team in 1994, but did not play in the game. His best season arguably was in 1994 when he won 10 games, losing 9, with a 3.43 ERA in 170 innings.
On August 29, 1996, the Brewers traded Bones, Pat Listach, and Graeme Lloyd to the New York Yankees for Bob Wickman and Gerald Williams.[1] He only played four games with the Yankees before being granted free agency on October 25. After that, he started moving from team to team playing with the Cincinnati Reds, the Brewers again, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and Florida Marlins. On June 19, 1998, Bones picked up the only save of his major league career. He pitched 4 scoreless innings to close out a 8-4 Royals victory over the Tigers. He saved the game for starter Glendon Rusch.[2] On November 5, 2001, he was granted free agency by the Marlins and he chose to retire.
Bones' retirement was precipitated at least in part by a degenerative hip condition which would later require him to undergo a double hip replacement in 2003.[3]
Coaching career
Bones as Buffalo Bisons pitching coach, 2009Bones with the Mets in 2015
On June 20, 2019, Bones once again became the bullpen coach for the New York Mets when Chuck Hernandez was fired. Bones was among several coaches who were granted by the Mets to pursue other coaching opportunities in MLB following the 2021 season.[7]
On November 4, 2021, Bones was hired by the Washington Nationals to serve as the team's bullpen coach for the 2022 season.[8]
PED use
In June 2000, a Florida Marlins clubhouse attendant found a paper bag in Bones' locker containing over two dozen syringes and six vials of anabolic steroids. Marlins management reported the find to the league office which subjected Bones to a urine test several months later. Bones later admitted in an interview with Mitchell Report investigators that he was self-administering steroids and painkillers at the time pursuant to a prescription he was given in his hometown in Puerto Rico.[3]
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