Brainer Bonaci

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #16 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The Sox signed Bonaci for $290,000 on the basis of his good hands, strong arm and ability to switch-hit. His middle infield defense and bat-to-ball skills stood out early in pro ball, but in 2022, his already solid plate discipline improved, leading to a .262/.397/.385 line with 28 steals and as many walks (89) as strikeouts.
  
  Scouting Report: Bonaci showed excellent plate discipline but arguably lapsed into passivity while batting lefthanded, where he hit .257/.413/.357 with a 20.5% walk rate. He hit .279/.330/.523 righthanded, showing more thump and a more aggressive approach from that side. He produces a lot of liners and groundballs to the opposite field, but Bonaci went from no homers and 11 extra-base hits in through June (57 games) to six homers and 20 extra-base hits in the last three months (51 games). Though his speed is fringe-average, his feel for the game allows it to play up, and he took smart chances on the bases. Defensively, he proved capable at short and above-average with good range at second while also providing solid defense at third with a plus arm.
  
  The Future: Bonaci's skill set of a disciplined switch-hitter with solid contact skills and the ability to handle three infield positions suggests a player with a utility profile. If the late-season power gains were a sign of double-digit home runs in his future, there's a chance for more upside as a regular who could hit at the bottom of a lineup.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 40. Speed: 45. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #18 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: The Red Sox believed that Bonaci had the potential for a well-rounded skill set when they signed him for $290,000, and that view remains intact after the switch-hitter posted a .245/.336/.383 line with 20 extra-base hits and 12 steals in as many attempts over 49 games between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Bonaci had good feel for both sides of the ball as an amateur, and then added muscle after signing in 2018. While he lost some of his physical gains during the pandemic (something he planned to address by working out in the offseason in Florida), as an 18-year-old, he showed feel to hit and unusual plate discipline given his age. While he moved from short to second to accommodate Marcelo Mayer, Bonaci adapted well to that position and appears capable of developing at both middle-infield positions, with a chance to develop into average or better power given his feel for the barrel and approach. He runs well and shows good instincts on the bases.
  
  The Future: Bonaci seems likely to open 2022 back in Low-A Salem, but with a chance to move up at midseason and remain on a more aggressive development path than peers in his signing class. He has the potential to emerge as an everyday middle infielder with near-average or better tools across the board who, as a switch-hitter, may avoid platoon confinement.
  
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #19 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Bonaci's balanced skill set impressed the Red Sox when they signed him for $290,000 as a 16-year-old, and his early performance as a professional has added to the sense of his potential. He hit .279/.356/.397 in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, and he continued to hold his own against older competition at instructional league in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Bonaci has gotten stronger by adding about 35 pounds since signing, strength that generates steady, hard contact with some power. That power is amplified by his advanced approach, strike-zone management from both sides of the plate and good bat-to-ball skills. He shows the hands, range, and above-average arm to stick at shortstop, with speed to have further impact on the bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Bonaci is advanced for his age, with a chance to move quickly through the lower levels. His well-rounded game gives him an unusually solid floor for a player who's never played full-season ball, with a chance to emerge as an average to above-average everyday shortstop.
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #18 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Signed as a small but physical 16-year-old with strong bat-to-ball skills and good baseball instincts, Bonaci had a strong pro debut in the Dominican Republic.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: In the DSL, Bonaci showed signs of plate discipline (8.8 percent walk rate), contact skills (15.3 percent strikeout rate), raw but impactful speed, and pop (.118 ISO). Defensively, he showed the standout arm strength to play on the left side of the infield, and the Red Sox will develop him primarily at short, though he did play some third this year. Some evaluators believe that his future is most likely as a versatile player who can move around the field while having a solid ability to play shortstop.
  
  THE FUTURE: At an early stage of his pro career, Bonaci has shown the potential to have solid across-theboard tools with a chance at worst to be an offensive utility player.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The Sox signed Bonaci for $290,000 on the basis of his good hands, strong arm and ability to switch-hit. His middle infield defense and bat-to-ball skills stood out early in pro ball, but in 2022, his already solid plate discipline improved, leading to a .262/.397/.385 line with 28 steals and as many walks (89) as strikeouts.
  
  Scouting Report: Bonaci showed excellent plate discipline but arguably lapsed into passivity while batting lefthanded, where he hit .257/.413/.357 with a 20.5% walk rate. He hit .279/.330/.523 righthanded, showing more thump and a more aggressive approach from that side. He produces a lot of liners and groundballs to the opposite field, but Bonaci went from no homers and 11 extra-base hits in through June (57 games) to six homers and 20 extra-base hits in the last three months (51 games). Though his speed is fringe-average, his feel for the game allows it to play up, and he took smart chances on the bases. Defensively, he proved capable at short and above-average with good range at second while also providing solid defense at third with a plus arm.
  
  The Future: Bonaci's skill set of a disciplined switch-hitter with solid contact skills and the ability to handle three infield positions suggests a player with a utility profile. If the late-season power gains were a sign of double-digit home runs in his future, there's a chance for more upside as a regular who could hit at the bottom of a lineup.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 40. Speed: 45. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The Sox signed Bonaci for $290,000 on the basis of his good hands, strong arm and ability to switch-hit. His middle infield defense and bat-to-ball skills stood out early in pro ball, but in 2022, his already solid plate discipline improved, leading to a .262/.397/.385 line with 28 steals and as many walks (89) as strikeouts.
  
  Scouting Report: Bonaci showed excellent plate discipline but arguably lapsed into passivity while batting lefthanded, where he hit .257/.413/.357 with a 20.5% walk rate. He hit .279/.330/.523 righthanded, showing more thump and a more aggressive approach from that side. He produces a lot of liners and groundballs to the opposite field, but Bonaci went from no homers and 11 extra-base hits in through June (57 games) to six homers and 20 extra-base hits in the last three months (51 games). Though his speed is fringe-average, his feel for the game allows it to play up, and he took smart chances on the bases. Defensively, he proved capable at short and above-average with good range at second while also providing solid defense at third with a plus arm.
  
  The Future: Bonaci's skill set of a disciplined switch-hitter with solid contact skills and the ability to handle three infield positions suggests a player with a utility profile. If the late-season power gains were a sign of double-digit home runs in his future, there's a chance for more upside as a regular who could hit at the bottom of a lineup.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 40. Speed: 45. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The Red Sox believed that Bonaci had the potential for a well-rounded skill set when they signed him for $290,000, and that view remains intact after the switch-hitter posted a .245/.336/.383 line with 20 extra-base hits and 12 steals in as many attempts over 49 games between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Bonaci had good feel for both sides of the ball as an amateur, and then added muscle after signing in 2018. While he lost some of his physical gains during the pandemic (something he planned to address by working out in the offseason in Florida), as an 18-year-old, he showed feel to hit and unusual plate discipline given his age. While he moved from short to second to accommodate Marcelo Mayer, Bonaci adapted well to that position and appears capable of developing at both middle-infield positions, with a chance to develop into average or better power given his feel for the barrel and approach. He runs well and shows good instincts on the bases.
  
  The Future: Bonaci seems likely to open 2022 back in Low-A Salem, but with a chance to move up at midseason and remain on a more aggressive development path than peers in his signing class. He has the potential to emerge as an everyday middle infielder with near-average or better tools across the board who, as a switch-hitter, may avoid platoon confinement.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Red Sox believed that Bonaci had the potential for a well-rounded skill set when they signed him for $290,000, and that view remains intact after the switch-hitter posted a .245/.336/.383 line with 20 extra-base hits and 12 steals in as many attempts over 49 games between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Bonaci had good feel for both sides of the ball as an amateur, and then added muscle after signing in 2018. While he lost some of his physical gains during the pandemic (something he planned to address by working out in the offseason in Florida), as an 18-year-old, he showed feel to hit and unusual plate discipline given his age. While he moved from short to second to accommodate Marcelo Mayer, Bonaci adapted well to that position and appears capable of developing at both middle-infield positions, with a chance to develop into average or better power given his feel for the barrel and approach. He runs well and shows good instincts on the bases.
  
  The Future: Bonaci seems likely to open 2022 back in Low-A Salem, but with a chance to move up at midseason and remain on a more aggressive development path than peers in his signing class. He has the potential to emerge as an everyday middle infielder with near-average or better tools across the board who, as a switch-hitter, may avoid platoon confinement.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Bonaci's balanced skill set impressed the Red Sox when they signed him for $290,000 as a 16-year-old, and his early performance as a professional has added to the sense of his potential. He hit .279/.356/.397 in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, and he continued to hold his own against older competition at instructional league in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Bonaci has gotten stronger by adding about 35 pounds since signing, strength that generates steady, hard contact with some power. That power is amplified by his advanced approach, strike-zone management from both sides of the plate and good bat-to-ball skills. He shows the hands, range, and above-average arm to stick at shortstop, with speed to have further impact on the bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Bonaci is advanced for his age, with a chance to move quickly through the lower levels. His well-rounded game gives him an unusually solid floor for a player who's never played full-season ball, with a chance to emerge as an average to above-average everyday shortstop.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Bonaci's balanced skill set impressed the Red Sox when they signed him for $290,000 as a 16-year-old, and his early performance as a professional has added to the sense of his potential. He hit .279/.356/.397 in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, and he continued to hold his own against older competition at instructional league in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Bonaci has gotten stronger by adding about 35 pounds since signing, strength that generates steady, hard contact with some power. That power is amplified by his advanced approach, strike-zone management from both sides of the plate and good bat-to-ball skills. He shows the hands, range, and above-average arm to stick at shortstop, with speed to have further impact on the bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Bonaci is advanced for his age, with a chance to move quickly through the lower levels. His well-rounded game gives him an unusually solid floor for a player who's never played full-season ball, with a chance to emerge as an average to above-average everyday shortstop.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Bonaci's balanced skill set impressed the Red Sox when they signed him for $290,000 as a 16-year-old, and his early performance as a professional has added to the sense of his potential. He hit .279/.356/.397 in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, and he continued to hold his own against older competition at instructional league in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Bonaci has gotten stronger by adding about 35 pounds since signing, strength that generates steady, hard contact with some power. That power is amplified by his advanced approach, strike-zone management from both sides of the plate and good bat-to-ball skills. He shows the hands, range, and above-average arm to stick at shortstop, with speed to have further impact on the bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Bonaci is advanced for his age, with a chance to move quickly through the lower levels. His well-rounded game gives him an unusually solid floor for a player who's never played full-season ball, with a chance to emerge as an average to above-average everyday shortstop.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Signed as a small but physical 16-year-old with strong bat-to-ball skills and good baseball instincts, Bonaci had a strong pro debut in the Dominican Republic.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: In the DSL, Bonaci showed signs of plate discipline (8.8 percent walk rate), contact skills (15.3 percent strikeout rate), raw but impactful speed, and pop (.118 ISO). Defensively, he showed the standout arm strength to play on the left side of the infield, and the Red Sox will develop him primarily at short, though he did play some third this year. Some evaluators believe that his future is most likely as a versatile player who can move around the field while having a solid ability to play shortstop.
  
  THE FUTURE: At an early stage of his pro career, Bonaci has shown the potential to have solid across-theboard tools with a chance at worst to be an offensive utility player.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Signed as a small but physical 16-year-old with strong bat-to-ball skills and good baseball instincts, Bonaci had a strong pro debut in the Dominican Republic.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: In the DSL, Bonaci showed signs of plate discipline (8.8 percent walk rate), contact skills (15.3 percent strikeout rate), raw but impactful speed, and pop (.118 ISO). Defensively, he showed the standout arm strength to play on the left side of the infield, and the Red Sox will develop him primarily at short, though he did play some third this year. Some evaluators believe that his future is most likely as a versatile player who can move around the field while having a solid ability to play shortstop.
  
  THE FUTURE: At an early stage of his pro career, Bonaci has shown the potential to have solid across-theboard tools with a chance at worst to be an offensive utility player.