Dozier, Bonifacio represent in Futures Game

June 28th, 2016

SAN DIEGO -- Third baseman Hunter Dozier and outfielder Jorge Bonifacio -- the Royals' Nos. 14 and 15 prospects, according to MLBPipeline.com -- represented the club in Sunday's SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Petco Park. 
The World Team, for which Bonifacio started at designated hitter, beat Dozier's U.S. Team by a score of 11-3 to win the heralded prospect exhibition for the first time in seven years.
Futures Game rosters and scouting reports
This season, Dozier has spent time between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha; between them, he's hitting .330 with 17 home runs in 83 combined games. Royals manager Ned Yost said he's been impressed with Dozier's growth as a hitter, as he ranks in the Top 10 in extra-base hits in among Minor League players.
After entering the Futures Game in the eighth inning, Dozier went 0-for-1 on a fielder's choice. He did make a contribution after that, though, stealing second base during the very next at-bat. 
Box score
Bonifacio signed out of the Dominican Republic as a non-drafted free agent in 2009. He played on the World Team after what's been a very successful campaign in Omaha. In 84 games this year, he's hitting .290 with 13 home runs. Bonifacio has been named a Texas League (Double-A) All-Star in each of the last two seasons.
As the World Team DH on Sunday, he walked in his two plate appearances.

"I was proud that both of those guys got selected," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "They are both great candidates."
Last year, the Royals had three representatives in the Futures Game: infielders Balbino Fuenmayor, Raul Mondesi and Cheslor Cuthbert. Both Mondesi and Cuthbert are on the Royals' 40-man roster, with Cuthbert earning the starting third-base job following Mike Moustakas' season-ending ACL injury in May.
"Proud of the year both guys are having," said vice president/assistant GM of player personnel J.J. Picollo. "They have matured as hitters and handled themselves well in Omaha. It's a great honor and well deserved to be part of such an event as the Futures Game."