Royals reinstate Jorge Bonifacio from suspension

The Royals have activated outfielder Jorge Bonifacio from the suspended list and have deisgnated infielder Ryan Goins for assignment. Bonifacio had been suspended for the first 80 games of the season for testing positive for Boldenone, a known horse steroid. Should he test positive for another banned substance, he would face a year-long suspension, and a lifetime ban for a third violation. It won’t matter for the Royals, but Bonifacio is also ineligible for this year’s post-season.

Bonifacio showed promise in his rookie season in 2017, hitting .255/.320/.432 with 17 home runs in 132 games. He was allowed to play in 13 minor league games leading up to the expiration of his suspension, hitting .392/.466/.529 for AAA Omaha.

Bonifacio figures to be the everyday right-fielder, with Jorge Soler out for at least six weeks with broken toe. Rosell Herrera could see a lot of time in centerfield, although expect Whit Merrifield and Alcides Escobar to also get some time there with Adalberto Mondesi up. Mondesi’s addition plus the positional versatility of Merrifield and Escobar made Goins pretty expendable. The Royals had signed him to a minor league deal last winter, and the 30-year old hit .226/.252/.313 in 120 plate appearances.