Fast start for Bonifacio

Emilio Bonifacio collected three more hits tonight against the Mets in an 8-4 Marlins loss. The speedy leadoff man is hitting .583 through 23 at bats and becomes third-base eligible in most leagues by the middle of next week.

Fantasy Impact: Bonifacio offers a nice alternative to Chone Figgins for a speed option at third base. The Marlins and fantasy owners will have to hope his major production lasts for more than one week.

Bonafide Bonifacio

We told you about Emilio Bonifacio and his abilities as a burner at the top of the Florida Marlins lineup. Monday he turned in a Karl "Tuffy" Rhodes-like opening day, going 4-5 with 4 runs scored, 2 RBI, 3 steals and the first inside-the-park home run since 1968. His Marlins beat the Nationals, 12-6. Not a bad day.

Fantasy Impact: First, the good news. Bonifacio is a special talent. His speed is stunning. If you see the home run replay, he was alread around 2nd base when Nationals center fielder Lasting Milledge got to the ball hit over his head near the warning track. That's blazing speed.

The bad news? Bonifacio is only 23, and he's never been tested over a full season in the majors. His homers might only come by the way of the inside-the-park variety, and his career minor league OBP is just .340. He leaves much to be desired, unless he continues to get on and run like he did against the Nats.

Bonifacio wins Marlins third base job; McPherson cut

Emilio Bonifacio not only won the third base job in Florida, he's the Marlins only option after they released fellow third baseman Dallas McPherson.

On Monday, the Marlins sent rookie first baseman Gaby Sanchez to the minors, leaving Emilio Bonifacio, acquired from Washington in the offseason, as the team's starting third baseman and Jorge Cantu as the first baseman.

One month ago, the question was where Cantu would play. After first baseman Mike Jacobs was traded to Kansas City, the options were Cantu at first base and McPherson at third, or whether it would be Sanchez at first and McPherson at third. The prevailing thought was that the team's defense would improve from 2008, a stated goal of team officials, under either scenario. Now they have turned to Bonifacio, a natural second baseman who is still learning to play third and has struggled at times this spring.

Yes, but he can run. With Sanchez and McPherson out of the way, Florida is making a commitment to the corner combo of Bonifacio and Cantu. The Marlins would love to have the speed-burning threesome of Cameron Maybin, Bonifacio and Hanley Ramirez to terrorize opponents at the top of the order.

Fantasy Impact: Bonifacio can fly. Just search his name on Youtube and you'll see. He's stolen 61 bases in a minor league season, and he's likely to get a slot near the top of the batting order. If he can hold down third base, expect a light-hitting burner who can get you 40-plus steals and score 75 runs.

Bonifacio the Burner

In a matter of several months from late last season into the offseason, Emilio Bonifacio went from the Diamondbacks to the Nationals to the Marlins in a pair of trades. Now he's emerging as a probable starter for the Marlins at third base.

Bonifacio is building a strong case to be on Florida's Opening Day roster.

If that comes to fruition, the Marlins will have the chance to place three burners in their lineup -- Bonifacio, Cameron Maybin and Hanley Ramirez.

Nothing in terms of the final roster is official yet, but Bonifacio is on a path to make an impact from the time the season opens on April 6 against his former team, Washington.

"I like him. I like him in that lineup, someplace," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He has made unbelievable improvement at third base, a position he didn't play [before]. He's been learning under the gun a little bit. He's done a terrific job learning that position.

"We know he can play the middle of the diamond, and we know he can play the outfield a little bit. We may run him out in the outfield and get a little more flexibility."

Fantasy Impact: Bonifacio might have been a minor option if he was coming off the bench, but now that he's going to get an opportunity to start, watch out! This is a player who stole 61 bases in the minors in a single season. He can fly, if he can get on base. While his OBP climbed to .361 in two minor league stints last year, his career OBP stood at .338 heading into last season. In the majors, Bonifacio managed to reach base at a .300 clip.

We're intrigued to see what he can do for the Marlins this year. He's hitting .266 with an OBP of .309 this spring. He has the potential to become a player with the upside of Chone Figgins or the unreliability of Michael Bourn.