Boston has suffered the loss of a significant prospect for the current season and potentially for future periods as well.
Over the past few years, the Boston Red Sox have dedicated efforts to overhaul their farm system with the goal of establishing a competitive team for the long term.
During this process, the organization focused on acquiring numerous position players, particularly favoring middle infielders. Presently, 10 of the Red Sox’s top 30 prospects are designated as either shortstops or second basemen. This count excludes Ceddanne Rafaela, who is projected to patrol center field but possesses the versatility to play various positions.
One of these players is said to be sitting out the entire 2024 season due to severe accusations.
According to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, Red Sox prospect Brainer Bonaci has been suspended for the season following allegations related to violations of the minor league domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy. Bonaci was reportedly placed on the restricted list in October, leading to his withdrawal from the Arizona Fall League.
The 21-year-old is ranked as the Red Sox’s 12th prospect by MLB Pipeline. The mystery surrounding his absence last season has been resolved.
During the previous season, Bonaci achieved a batting average of .297 with 30 extra-base hits, including 11 home runs, along with 45 RBIs and a .818 OPS in 79 games split between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland.
Despite the challenge of finding a route to Boston for Bonaci due to the team’s deep pool of talent in his position, his skill set alone likely would have provided opportunities for him within the organization or potentially led to a trade where he could have excelled.
Now, he will be sidelined for the entire 2024 season, and his prospects within the organization are facing significant uncertainty.