Ilya Bogatyrev

From BR Bullpen

Ilya Bogatyrev (Bogey)

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 0", Weight 165 lb.

School Moscow State University

Born March 22, 1969 in Moscow USSR

Ilya Bogatyrev was one of the first three Russian-trained players to sign with a MLB club. Ilya played for the USSR in the 1989 Intercontinental Cup and 1990 Goodwill Games. In the 1991 Intercontinental Cup, he hit .250/.300/.286 and fielded .857 at shortstop. Before baseball, Bogatyrev had been a kayaking champion in college before an injury turned him towards baseball.

Ilya was signed by the California Angels in 1992 for a $1,500 bonus, along with fellow Russians Yevgeny Puchkov and Rudolf Razhigaev. He hit .196/.288/.261 for the 1992 AZL Angels and fielded only .759 at short; his batting line was at least very comparable to the club's starting shortstop, a Dominican. In 1993, Bogatyrev batted .274/.384/.290 in 25 games for the AZL Angels, He hit better than the team average.