Red Sox minor-league infielder Brainer Bonaci has been suspended for the entirety of the 2024 season as a result of violating MiLB’s domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy, according to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier.
Bonaci had been placed on MLB’s restricted list for violating said policy in early October, which resulted in him being pulled from the Arizona Fall League following a brief stint with the Glendale Desert Dogs. The 21-year-old has been away from the Red Sox since then and has been working out at home in Venezuela this spring as opposed to the club’s Fenway South complex in Fort Myers.
A native of Catia La Mar, Bonaci originally signed with the Red Sox for $290,000 as an international free agent in July 2018. He came into the 2023 campaign ranked by Baseball America as the No. 16 prospect in Boston’s farm system and was a candidate to be added to the 40-man roster at year’s end in order to receive protection from the Rule 5 Draft.
In 79 total games between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland last year, the switch-hitting 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 over 350 plate appearances. Defensively, he saw playing time at second base, shortstop, third base, and left field.
After receiving a promotion from Greenville to Portland in early August, Bonaci appeared in just 16 games with the Sea Dogs before being placed on the reserve list on Aug. 30. He was then sent home “on administrative leave” while the league began its investigation, but was taken off the reserve list at the end of the minor-league season and permitted to take part in the Red Sox’ fall performance program in Fort Myers as well as the Arizona Fall League.
Bonaci arrived in Arizona in late September, but appeared in just two games for Glendale (going 1-for-7 with four strikeouts) prior to hitting the restricted list on Oct. 4. When asked about the matter by The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey in November, Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham said that “he was prohibited from commenting on the situation for now.”
As of this writing, it is not yet known how Bonaci violated the minor-league domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy. Regardless of that, though, the league’s investigation into the violation led to Bonaci being handed down a season-long suspension that could have further ramifications regarding his future as a member of the Red Sox organization.
(Picture of Brainer Bonaci: Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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