Jorge Luis Bonifacio

Jorge Luis Bonifacio (born June 4, 1993) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals.

Career

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals signed Bonifacio as an international free agent in 2009. He played for the Kane County Cougars of the Class A Midwest League, and appeared in the Midwest League All-Star Game. In 2013, Bonifacio began the season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League. In the final weeks of the season, the Royals promoted Bonifacio to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Class AA Texas League. After the season, they assigned him to the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League. He was named to the Fall Stars Game.

The Royals invited Bonifacio to spring training in 2014. He played for the Naturals in 2014 and in 2015. He spent the 2016 season with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, and was selected to appear in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game.

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 and home run on April 23.

On March 10, 2018, Bonifacio was suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for boldenone an anabolic steroid derived from testosterone. He returned in the second half of the season but struggled, hitting .225 with four home runs and 23 RBIs.

Bonifacio was designated for assignment on November 20, 2019. He was released on November 25, and became a free agent on November 27.

Detroit Tigers

On December 7, 2019, the Detroit Tigers signed Jorge Bonifacio to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training.

Personal life

Bonifacio is the younger brother of Emilio Bonifacio.