Jorge Luis Bonifacio (born June 4, 1993) is a Dominican professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

outfielder An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to catch ...

for the

Kansas City Monarchs The Kansas City Monarchs were the longest-running franchise in the history of baseball's Negro leagues. Operating in Kansas City, Missouri, and owned by J. L. Wilkinson, they were charter members of the Negro National League from 1920 to 193 ...

of the

American Association of Professional Baseball The American Association of Professional Baseball is an independent professional baseball league founded in 2005. It operates in the central United States and Canada, mostly in cities not served by Major League Baseball teams or their minor ...

. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

, and

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

Career

Kansas City Royals

The

signed Bonifacio as an international

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

in 2009. He played for the

Kane County Cougars The Kane County Cougars are a professional baseball team located in Geneva, Illinois, and are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball (MLB). They play their home games a ...

of the Single–A

Midwest League The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...

, and appeared in the Midwest League All-Star Game. In 2013, Bonifacio began the season with the

Wilmington Blue Rocks The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Wilmington, Delaware, and play their home games at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium. Fra ...

of the High–A

Carolina League The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 unti ...

. In the final weeks of the season, the Royals promoted Bonifacio to the

Northwest Arkansas Naturals The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale, Arkansas, Springdale, Arkansas. The team is a member of the Texas League, and serves as the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. T ...

of the Double–A

Texas League The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...

. After the season, they assigned him to the

Peoria Javelinas The Peoria Javelinas are a baseball team based in Peoria, Arizona, that competes in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. The team plays its home games at Peoria Sports Complex. The ballpark is also the spring training facility for the S ...

of the

Arizona Fall League The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an off-season baseball league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) which operates during autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes. Arizona Fall League rosters are filled ...

. He was named to the Fall Stars Game. The Royals invited Bonifacio to

spring training Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...

in 2014. He played for the Naturals in 2014 and in 2015. He spent the 2016 season with the

Omaha Storm Chasers The Omaha Storm Chasers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are located in Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb southwest of Omaha, Nebraska, Omah ...

of the Triple–A

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

, and was selected to appear in the 2016

All-Star Futures Game The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game hosted by Major League Baseball (MLB) in conjunction with the mid-summer MLB All-Star Game. A team of American League-affiliated prospects competes against a team of National League- ...

. Bonifacio began the 2017 season with Omaha. The Royals promoted him to the major leagues on April 21, 2017. He recorded his first major league

hit Hit means to strike someone or something. Hit or HIT may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Hit, a fictional character from ''Dragon Ball Super'' * Homicide International Trust or HIT, a fictional organization i ...

and

home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the Baseball (ball), ball is hit in such a way that the batting (baseball), batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safe (baseball), safely in one play without any error ( ...

on April 23. On March 10, 2018, Bonifacio was suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for

boldenone Boldenone (developmental code name RU-18761), is a naturally occurring anabolic–androgenic steroid (AAS) and the 1(2)- dehydrogenated analogue of testosterone. Boldenone itself has never been marketed; as a pharmaceutical drug, it is used as ...

New York Times
/ref> an

anabolic steroid Anabolic steroids, also known as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), are a class of drugs that are structurally related to testosterone, the main male sex hormone, and produce effects by binding to the androgen receptor (AR). Anabolism, Anaboli ...

derived from

testosterone Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and androgen in Male, males. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of Male reproductive system, male reproductive tissues such as testicles and prostate, as well as promoting se ...

. He returned in the second half of the season but struggled, hitting .225 with four home runs and 23 RBI. On November 20, 2019, Bonifacio was designated for assignment after multiple prospects were added to the roster. He was released by the organization on November 25.

Detroit Tigers

On December 7, 2019, the

signed Bonifacio to a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training. On August 19, 2020, the Tigers purchased Bonifacio's contract and inserted him into the lineup. Overall with the 2020 Detroit Tigers, Bonifacio batted .221 with two home runs and 17 RBI in 30 games. On October 27, Bonifacio was outrighted off of the 40-man roster. He became a free agent on November 2. On April 12, 2021, it was reported that Bonifacio had signed with the

Mariachis de Guadalajara The Mariachis de Guadalajara ( English: Guadalajara Mariachis) were a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Zapopan, Jalisco, in the Guadalajara metropolitan area. Their home ballpark was the Estadio Panamericano, with a capaci ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...

. However the next day, Bonifacio’s representatives noted that Bonifacio had not signed with the club and was still a free agent.

Philadelphia Phillies

On May 25, 2021, Bonifacio signed a minor league contract with the

organization and was assigned to the Double-A

Reading Fightin Phils The Reading Fightin Phils (also called the Reading Fightins) are a Minor League Baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Northeast Division of the Eastern League. The team plays their home games at FirstEnergy Stadium. The R ...

. Bonifacio hit .251 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs in 49 games for Double-A Reading, leading to his promoting to the Triple-A

Lehigh Valley IronPigs The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and they are named in reference to pig iron, used ...

on July 22. After hitting .321 with three home runs and 13 RBIs for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, the Phillies selected Bonifacio's contract on August 20. After going 0-for-3 for the Phillies, Bonifacio was designated for assignment on August 24. On August 25, Bonifacio cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. On August 27, after

Zach Eflin Zachary Adams Eflin (born April 8, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays. The San Diego Pad ...

, Luke Williams, and

Andrew Knapp Andrew Michael Knapp (born November 9, 1991) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and San Francisco Gia ...

were placed on the

Covid-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

list, the Phillies re-selected Bonifacio's contract. On September 3, Bonifacio was returned to Lehigh Valley and removed from the 40-man roster. On October 8, Bonifacio elected free agency. On March 30, 2022, Bonifacio re-signed with the Phillies on a minor league contract. He played in 112 games for Triple-A Lehigh, slashing .240/.336/.407 with 15 home runs, 57 RBI, and eight stolen bases. Bonifacio elected free agency following the season on November 10.

Kansas City Royals (second stint)

On March 9, 2023, Bonifacio signed a minor league contract with the

organization. He played in 118 games for the Double–A

, hitting .267/.354/.483 with 22 home runs and 88 RBI. Bonifacio elected free agency following the season on November 6.

Olmecas de Tabasco

On February 21, 2024, Bonifacio signed with the

Olmecas de Tabasco The Olmecas de Tabasco (English: Tabasco Olmecs) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. Their home ballpark is the Estadio Centenario 27 de Febrero. The Olmecas won their only Mexican Lea ...

of the

. In 34 games for Tabasco, Bonifacio batted .195/.315/.390 with six home runs and 17 RBI.

Saraperos de Saltillo

On June 12, 2024, Bonifacio was traded to the

Saraperos de Saltillo The Saraperos de Saltillo (English: Saltillo Serapes) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League. Their home ballpark is the Estadio de Béisbol Francisco I. Madero in Saltillo, Coahuila. They have won three championships (1980, 2009 ...

of the

. In 15 games for the Saraperos, he hit .229/.309/.458 with two home runs and nine RBI. Bonifacio was released by Saltillo on July 3.

Kansas City Monarchs

On February 25, 2025, Bonifacio signed with the

of the

Personal life

Bonifacio is the younger brother of Emilio Bonifacio.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonifacio, Jorge 1993 births Living people Arizona League Royals players Baseball players from Santo Domingo Burlington Royals players Detroit Tigers players Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Mexico Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States Dominican Republic sportspeople in doping cases Kane County Cougars players Kansas City Monarchs (American Association) players Kansas City Royals players Major League Baseball outfielders Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic 21st-century Dominican Republic sportsmen Major League Baseball players suspended for drug offenses Northwest Arkansas Naturals players Olmecas de Tabasco players Omaha Storm Chasers players Peoria Javelinas players Philadelphia Phillies players Saraperos de Saltillo players Tigres del Licey players Wilmington Blue Rocks players