Jorge Bonifacio walked into a batting cage at Werner Park, donning a bright blue Kansas City Royals hoodie. In a couple of hours, he would remove the top in favor of a Omaha Storm Chasers uniform, the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate.
Bonifacio was the first man to fall out of the race for the big-league right field job, sent to the minors earlier this month along with teammate Brett Phillips. And the final piece fell Monday — the Royals released Brian Goodwin in favor of offering a roster spot to recently-signed Lucas Duda.
As the Royals broke for spring training in February, that was the trio — Bonifacio, Goodwin and Phillips — thought to be competing to occupy right field inside Kauffman Stadium.