KC Royals: Internal Options To Boost Right Field

Mar 17, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder Jorge Bonifacio (38) catches a fly ball during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Jorge Bonifacio signed with the Kansas City Royals as a seven-figure international prospect as a 17-year-old in 2010, and was ranked the #99 best prospect by Baseball Prospectus (2014), and #90 by Baseball America.

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The 22-year-old Bonifacio (he turns 23 in June) stalled at AA NW Arkansas in 2014 and 2015, after a promising start at the level in 2013 when he hit .301/.371/.441.

Bonifacio earned a promotion to AAA this spring, and has been scorching the ball ever since. He’s slashing .336/.382/.582 with 6 home runs, 8 doubles, and 2 triples for the Omaha Stormchasers in what promises to be a breakthrough season for him.

The way Bonifacio is hitting, he’ll find himself back in top 100 lists this winter. He’s finally developed the power that scouts projected for him as an amateur. While he’ll probably be nothing more than an average defensive outfielder, he does have the arm to play right.

Extra base hits are ringing off his bat, but the downside is that he’s struck out 31 times in 122 at bats. That suggests there are holes in his swing that major-league pitchers might exploit, however his production speaks for itself. At age 22, Bonifacio’s start has people thinking about his upside instead of wondering about his disappointing performances in the past.

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