After a pair of subpar seasons, veteran utility man Emilio Bonifacio is enjoying a strong spring, putting him in "good position" to win a roster spot on the Atlanta Braves' bench, reports David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The 31-year-old Bonifacio had to settle for a minor-league contract with the Braves after hitting .211 in 24 games last season, spending most of the year at Triple-A Gwinnett. The native of the Dominican Republic has a combined .181 average over the past two years with the White Sox and Braves.

O'Brien reports Bonifacio has reported to camp in better shape and looks to be in a good position to land a roster spot because he can play all three outfield positions as well as second and third base. In 12 Grapefruit League games, Bonifacio is 8-for-28 (.286) with a double, a home run, two stolen bases and a .355 on-base percentage.

Bonifacio had his best seasons with Marlins from 2009-12, when he hit .271 and stole 103 bases.

- Doug Mittler