Rutgers baseball has landed a transfer with a familiar last name to its roster.
Campbell transfer Peyton Bonds, the nephew of San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates great Barry Bonds, announced his commitment to the Scarlet Knights on Monday. The outfielder becomes the 12th addition that Steve Owens’ program has made through the transfer portal this offseason.
Peyton Bonds is a Somerset native who played at Franklin High School, the alma mater of Scarlet Knight standout and reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Josh Kuroda-Grauer. He signed with Campbell out of high school, where he made an immediate impact as a freshman.
Bonds started 36 games last spring, earning CAA All-Rookie team honors by slashing .267/.341/.427 with five home runs, seven doubles and one triple. He recorded 21 RBIs, scored 29 runs, walked 15 times and sports a fielding percentage of .988, converting 82 of his 83 chances in the outfield.
Barry Bonds, arguably the greatest hitter in Major League Baseball history, holds the all-time record for career home runs (762) and single-season home runs, slugging 73 during the 2001 season. Bonds also holds the league record in career walks (2,558), single season walks (232), single season slugging percentage (.863) and single season on-base percentage (.609).
A 14-time All-Star and seven time National League MVP, Bonds has not been elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame due to the allegations of PED use that have tainted his reputation.
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Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com.