Red Sox releаse tаlented рrosрeсt аfter yeаr-long off-fіeld susрensіon

One year after being being handed a serious off-field suspension, talented prospect Brainer Bonaci is no longer with the Red Sox organization.

The Red Sox officially released Brainer Bonaci after he received a year-long suspension for violating league policies. (Photo by Chris Coduto/MLB Photos via Getty Images)MLB Photos via Getty Images

Bonaci, a 22-year-old infielder who was rising up prospect charts after reaching Double-A as part of a solid 2023 season, was released by the team, according to transactions logs. The news comes after Bonaci was suspended for the entire 2024 season for violating the minor league Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. The exact nature of the situation that caused the suspension remains unknown.

The Red Sox signed Bonaci as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2018 for $290,000. By 2023, he was squarely on prospect radars and only added to the hype by hitting .297 with 18 doubles, 11 homers and an .818 OPS in 79 games split between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland that year. Curiously, he was placed on the reserve list that August while playing in Portland and sent home to Venezuela, with an industry source labeling it is an “administrative leave.” He was reinstated to take part in the Arizona Fall League but played just two games before Major League Baseball placed him on the restricted list for violating the policy. He was subsequently suspended for all of 2024.

At the end of last season, both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline ranked Bonaci the Red Sox’s No. 11 prospect overall.