A Look Back at the Royals Top 31 Prospects: #15 Jorge Bonifacio

Outfielder Jorge Bonifacio was ranked as the Kansas City Royals number 15 prospect by Baseball America heading into the 2012 season. The younger brother of Miami Marlins outfielder Emilio Bonifacio spent the entire 2012 season in Low-A Kane County in his first full professional season. There, he was a Midwest League All-Star and hit .282 over 105 games. He hit 20 doubles, six triples, and ten homeruns, while scoring 54 times and driving in 61 runs. He did all that while battling a wrist injury in the closing weeks of the season.

Cougars first base coach Julio Bruno with Jorge Bonifacio (Craig Wieczorkiewicz/Midwest League Traveler)

With his power, Bonifacio projects as a solid outfielder in right field (he made just four errors in 183 chances in 2012). He also has an above-average arm (14 assists in 2012). His worst tool is his speed, unlike his brother.

Baseball America also placed him in their Midwest League Top 20 Prospects list. He came in at number 13. Bonifacio was the Cougars player of the year, an honor he also took in 2011 in Burlington and 2010 in the Dominican.

According to BA when ranking him as a Midwest League prospect:

"An aggressive hitter who swings early in the count, Bonifacio focuses on using the opposite field. His quick wrists give him bat speed, and he likes to stay inside the ball. There’s some violence and length to his swing, but he still controls the barrel well and could have plus power down the road."

Bonifacio is currently playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, but has received just one at-bat over three games.

John Sickels of SBNation wrote about Bonifacio back in July (including video) and believes he is just getting better.

Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star ranks Bonifacio as the Royals number eight prospect and believes he could be good enough to force Wil Myers out of right field. MLB.com ranks him as the Royals 16th prospect.