Major League Baseball has announced an 80-game suspension without pay for Royals outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, Joel Sherman of the New York Post was among those to report (Twitter link). Bonifacio tested positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance. His ban will open up roster space for third baseman Mike Moustakas, whom the Royals just re-signed.
In response to Bonifacio’s suspension, Royals general manager Dayton Moore said (via Rustin Dodd of The Athletic): “This obviously [is] a very disappointing situation for the Royals, our fans and Jorge. He is an incredible person who simple made a mistake. Jorge will have our full support as he deals with the consequences.”
The 24-year-old Bonifacio, formerly a well-regarded prospect, is coming off his first major league season. Across 422 plate appearances, the right-handed hitter slashed .255/.320/.432 with 17 home runs to essentially grade as a league-average offensive performer (99 wRC+). He also saw 808 innings in the outfield, mostly in right (743), and ended up with minus-3 Defensive Runs Saved and a plus-o.3 Ultimate Zone Rating.
Coming off a respectable rookie campaign, Bonifacio was the front-runner to start in right for the Royals on Opening Day, but the team will now have to make other plans for the first couple months of 2018. The club just signed veteran Jon Jay, who figures to join long-tenured Royal Alex Gordon in occupying starting spots. Other outfield options on the 40-man roster include Jorge Soler, Paulo Orlando, Hunter Dozier, former top prospect Bubba Starling (who’s dealing with an oblique injury) and perhaps second baseman Whit Merrifield, whom the Royals have tried in the grass in recent weeks. Kansas City also has Michael Saunders, Cody Asche and Tyler Collins on hand as experienced big leaguers who are in spring training as non-roster invitees.
In the event they’re not content with their in-house selections, the Royals could once again venture to free agency, where they’ve been active recently with the signings of Moustakas, Jay and Lucas Duda. There are some proven (albeit flawed) outfield options available via that route, with ex-Royals Melky Cabrera and Brandon Moss, Seth Smith, Jose Bautista, Jayson Werth, Andre Ethier and Matt Holliday among them. Infielder Neil Walker is also unsigned, and although he’s not an outfielder, he’d upgrade the Royals’ position player group in the wake of Bonifacio’s ban. The Royals showed interest in Walker recently.
Looks like Jorge Soler will get his chance to start. It’s almost hard to believe he’s only 25.
As a Cubs fan, I’ve always believed in Soler. Has big-time talent, just needs a chance and good health.
I remember his debut. We thought he’d be the next Puig, tools wise. I think he was just very young and the game sped up on him
Sources telling me he renewed his HD subscription to RedTube this morning, Royals gave him a 80 game ban as a result. Royals taking this zero tolerance approach quite seriously.
What is this redtube joke?
Haha.
You need subscription for redtube?
For HD yes, according to my friend who frequently uses those kind of sites
“My friend.”
wow…
Living the dream just to ruin his name. What a shame.
This is Soler’s chance he needs to take advantage
At least he wasn’t looking at any adult websites…
Weird. Another cheater. But what Tyler Cravy did was way worse than this right? Don’t worry, two years from now Bonafacio will sign a multi million dollar deal just like Nelson Cruz Johnny peralta Melky Cabrera Ryan Braun. Cheat for the cash.
Sad but probably true.
If he could only produce league average results on PEDs then one has to wonder if he’s any good.
I was not big on him anyways. Was hoping Moore would flip him for something. Like said above, Soler is getting his shot, no more bs.
I hope soler succeds. He deserves a chance to play everyday. He’s has so much raw power. Probably the best arm in right field when he plays.
Another major league organization backing the cheaters with the standard he is a great guy who made a mistake bullshit
big facts^
Dayton Moore has always backed his players to a fault. The Royals have continued to valued their players as people which is why the players have raved about their time in a KC. But, while I agree that their needs to be a better deterrent to taking PEDs, Moore referring to a players character fits right in line with his M.O.
whats up with the cheaters? dont they make enough even at league minimum to live?
How are players still this dumb? There’s already been a life tijme ban for one player. They can’t and dont comprehend the severity of the punishment.
It’s not as simple as you make it out to be.
Sure it is. Stop taking banned substances. And if you’re not sure ask. Get a legal document. Saying it was prescribed. It happened to Manny Ramirez. The “2nd” time. He was taking meds for his E.D. of he had a prescription he would have never got 100 game suspension. He still got his 4th world series ring as a bench coach for The cubs though.
3rd*
But it’s not. Especially when guys are borderline major league players. There is a lot of money to be made and the window to make money closes fast. There is a significant amount of young talent in the game today as well which puts pressure of players to perform at high levels.
Coincidence?
Royals will be the worst team in baseball this year
Not even close.
“Hold my beer…” -The Marlins
They won’t even be the worst team in the AL Central. They’ll do the worst thing possible, be mediocre win 77 games and get the 18th pick or something.
“not so fast”- Rays
Royals lineup is a joke
That’s ok we were a joke for a long time and then went to 2 World Series winning one. Several fans of their teams would take that. The pitching will kill them. The position players aren’t as bad as some.
When did it become required to describe every batting line as “slashed?” I grew up thinking of a player with lots of hits, but not a huge HR hitter, as being a slasher. Lyman Bostock, Bill Madlock, Rod Carew, Vlad Guerrero and Carlos Baerga were all slashers. When did it become acceptable to use it to describe the batting lines of back up OFs and players fighting to break the Mendoza line?
When they say “slashed” they mean what they batted. Doesn’t really have to do with the batter type. Slash line is a players average/on-base %/slugging%. An example is “Mike Trout slashed .306/.442/.629 last season, but Martin Maldonado slashed just .221/.276/.368”.
Probably as long as the “/” symbol has been referred to in the English language as a “slash.” I seem to remember that internet thingy also using and referencing that same symbol.
It just means “that was their slash line.” It has nothing to do with what style of hitter they were/are or how successful. It’s like if you said Player A “hit” .360 and Player B “hit” .160 you wouldn’t be saying they were similar “hitters.”