Jorge Bonifacio

Bonifacio missed 80 games due to a PED suspension after testing positive for B12 supplement that was laced with Boldenone. Once he returned to the field late in the summer, he looked nothing like the guy we saw in 2017, or even the guy from 2016 in Triple-A. The one skill that held up was his plate discipline as he was accepting walks (10.7% BB%), but his contact rate remained below average and his power numbers looked more like they belonged to teammate Alcides Escobar. If you believe in second chances and buying last year's disappointments, Bonifacio should be on your list as he should get regular playing time this season. That said, even in 2017, he was barely league average offensively.

Bonifacio's rookie year was not bad statistically, but it was not great either. His triple-slash line was replacement level for outfielders, but the 17 home runs and 55 runs in 113 games certainly helped a bit. While 12 of his 17 home runs came against righties, the overall numbers do not show him as a big pull hitter (35.6 pull percentage). Rather, he is someone who just performed better against righties in his rookie season, so that book is still out on him. The right field job is his in 2018, but hitting him high in the lineup again would be perplexing because he has not demonstrated the profile necessary for that role (28.0 strikeout percentage, 8.3 walk percentage). Then again, we are talking about the same team that hit Alcides Escobar leadoff for far too long. The 34.8 flyball percentage and home park work against a big power breakout.

Bonifacio had his best season as a professional in 2016. The 23-year-old outfielder slashed .277/.351/.461 in 134 games in his first crack at Triple-A. He posted career highs in home runs and RBI with 19 homers and 86 runs batted in. Bonifacio also notched a career-best 51 walks. Strikeouts remains a concern for Bonifacio, as he fanned over 125 times for the third consecutive season. In addition, despite his rather slight build, Bonifacio only possesses marginal speed. As a result, his upside appears limited, as Bonifacio is unlikely to hit .300, smack 20 home runs or steal 10 bases in a single season. Likewise, the Royals have a glut of outfielders ahead of him on the depth chart, so while Bonifacio has proven he can be serviceable, he will likely have to bide his time at Triple-A once again to begin the 2017 campaign.

In the first half, Bonifacio hit 13 homers and slashed .250/.313/.471 in 62 games with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, primarily as a 21-year-old. Those numbers certainly suggested that Bonifacio was on track to realizing his potential as a run-producing right fielder after struggling mightily his first full season at Double-A in 2014. He then proceeded to hit four home runs and slash .230/.296/.362 in 63 games in the second half, essentially negating all the prospect momentum he had gained with his strong first half. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, as a late-season slump can be somewhat explained given the brutal heat in the Texas League in July and August. One thing working in Bonifacio’s favor is that he doesn’t turn 23 until June 4, and yet he already has 1,207 plate appearances under his belt at Double-A. This is still a player worth monitoring in dynasty leagues, as he has plus raw power and could be about a year away from reaching the majors.

Bonifacio is a bit ahead of schedule in his development, having spent the entire 2014 season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas at age 21. The outfielder remains a work in progress, however, as a .230/.302/.309 slash line and 22.4% strikeout rate left much to be desired. He stole just eight bases and hit four homers in 132 games at the Double-A level, where he'll presumably begin his 2015 campaign. If he can show enough improvement, there's a chance he'll get to Triple-A by the end of the season, but it's unlikely he sees the majors due to Kansas City's organizational depth in the outfield.

While his older brother, Emilio, has built a career on speed and defense, the 20-year-old Jorge is looking to make more noise with his bat than his glove. He opened the 2013 season with the Royals' entry in the Arizona Rookie League, and after an immediate display of power and stronger plate discipline, he was promoted to High-A Wilmington, where he went on to post a .296/.368/.408 slash line, before a broken hamate bone landed him on the disabled list for nearly two months. He eventually worked his way back and even earned a promotion to Double-A at the end of July, where he continued to post a superb walk rate and a solid .300 average. Unfortunately, the power took longer to return, and he saw an increase in strikeouts while attempting to get it back. His talent level and end-of-season performance has earned him the right to continue his development at the Double-A level, and if he continues to exhibit strong plate discipline, a promotion to Triple-A at some point in 2014 seems very likely.

Bonifacio quietly produced a strong line in the pitcher-friendly Midwest League last season, hitting. 282/.336/.432 with 10 homers over 448 plate appearances. Unlike his older brother Emilio, Bonifacio projects to have above average power and his impact as a basestealer figures to be limited (6-for-9 in 2012). The Royals will bring him along slowly, but Bonifacio's ability to hold his own against older competition (he was the fourth-youngest player in the league on Opening Day) bodes well for his chances of succeeding as he advances, especially since he possesses steady contact skills (81%) for a young hitter with pop. Look for Bonifacio to spend most of the year at High-A, but another strong showing will likely open eyes beyond Kansas City as he already projects to be an above-average regular.