Red Sox infield prospect Brainer Bonaci was placed on Major League Baseball’s restricted list earlier this month for violating the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy, according to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier.
Bonaci, 21, is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 11 prospect in Boston’s farm system. The native Venezuelan originally signed with the Red Sox for $290,000 as an international free agent coming out of Catia La Mar in July 2018.
In 79 games (350 plate appearances) between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland this past season, Bonaci batted .297/.354/.464 with 18 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 45 RBIs, 44 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 30 walks, and 80 strikeouts while seeing the majority of his playing time come at either second base or shortstop. The switch-hitter made the jump from Greenville to Portland over the summer but only appeared in 16 games for the Sea Dogs before being placed on the reserve list in late August.
Around that same time, per Speier, Bonaci was sent home to Venezuela for the rest of the minor-league campaign “due to what one league source at the time called administrative leave.” He was then taken off the reserve list at season’s end and was permitted to take part in the Red Sox’ fall performance program in Fort Myers as well as the Arizona Fall League as a member of the Glendale Desert Dogs.
Bonaci, however, appeared in just two games for Glendale, going 1-for-7 with four strikeouts before being placed on the restricted list by MLB on October 4. His roster spot was effectively taken by fellow Red Sox prospect Tyler McDonough, who reported to the Desert Dogs on Tuesday.
As noted by Speier, it is not yet known how Bonaci violated the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy; nor is it known how much time he will spend on the restricted list before a potential resolution is reached.
Bonaci, who does not turn 22 until next July, was a candidate to be added to the Red Sox’ 40-man roster next month as a result of being eligible for December’s Rule 5 Draft. Looking beyond that, he is not slated to reach minor-league free agency until after the 2025 season.
(Picture of Brainer Bonaci: Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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