Bonifacio close to starting rehab assignment

KANSAS CITY -- In less than two weeks, Royals outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, serving an 80-game suspension, will begin a rehab assignment in the Minors in preparation for being activated to the 25-man roster.
Royals officials say Bonifacio, who was suspended by Major League Baseball for testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance, likely will begin his rehab assignment on June 12. By MLB rule, it will last 15 days.
Bonifacio, who had been the Royals' starting right fielder entering Spring Training, will be reinstated from the suspended list after the club's game against the Brewers at Miller Park on June 27. On June 28, an off-day, he will be activated and a corresponding move will be made.
That corresponding move should be interesting. The Royals could have a logjam of outfielders then with Bonifacio along with Jorge Soler, Jon Jay and Alex Gordon. And Cheslor Cuthbert, presently on the disabled list, likely will be activated by then and would probably fill the DH spot again, especially if first baseman Lucas Duda, also on the DL, is activated by then as well.
Royals officials also say that Bonifacio probably will alternate time between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha during his rehab, depending on the logistics of each team's travel schedule.
Bonifacio has been working out at the team's Spring Training facilities in Surprise, Ariz., since his suspension began and he has been playing in extended spring games.
Oaks up, Boyer to DL
The Royals on Wednesday recalled right-hander Trevor Oaks from Omaha and placed reliever Blaine Boyer on the 10-day disabled list with a strained lower back.
Royals manager Ned Yost said Boyer, who has an 11.76 ERA in 20 appearances, has been dealing with the back issue for some time and that it flared up on the recent road trip.

The Royals needed another available arm after right-hander Scott Barlow had to go four innings in relief in a 2-1 win in 14 innings over the Twins on Tuesday. Yost needed another pitcher to piggyback Brad Keller's start on Wednesday -- Keller made his first start of the season after appearing in 21 games as a reliever and was slated to be on a 55-60 pitch count.
Oaks made one start for the Royals against the White Sox in April and permitted five runs and 12 hits in five innings.