Colorado Rockies news and links for Wednesday, July 30, 2025
The Colorado Rockies’ minor league system isn’t short on recognizable names, especially after recent draft hauls and breakout performances across the lower levels. But one name that has slipped under the radar over the past year is Warming Bernabel, a player once viewed as a top-10 prospect in the system, now fighting to prove he still belongs in the conversation.
Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2018, Bernabel quickly made a name for himself with a mature approach at the plate and sneaky pop. After a pedestrian start to his professional career in the Dominican Summer League, he burst onto the scene when he headed to the United States in 2021 with a phenomenal performance in the Arizona Complex League.
He slashed .313/.370/.499 across Low-A and High-A the following season in 2022 with 14 home runs. He was added to the Rockies’ 40-man roster as a Rule-5 protection, and there was cautious optimism that the Rockies might have found their future third baseman—or at least a versatile bat with infield flexibility.
Then came 2023.
A combination of injuries and inconsistency derailed Bernabel’s ascent. He appeared in just 91 games, hitting a modest .236 with a .282 OBP and only eight home runs. More troubling than the stat line was the loss of the sharp contact and aggressive-but-controlled approach that defined his early success. Scouts noted a longer swing, more chase outside the zone, and declining footwork at third base.
He was designated for assignment during spring training in 2024, getting outrighted to Double-A once again. However, Bernabel took a massive step forward last season, proving that 2023 may have just been a fluke of a year. He played 120 games with the Yard Goats, slashing .263/.282/.367 with nine home runs. He was still lacking in the discipline department with an overly aggressive approach.
Now, in 2025, he’s trying to turn the page and has impressed early in his big league career.
Back healthy and assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque to begin the year, Bernabel showed signs of returning to form. Through 75 games, he’s slashed .301/.356/.450 with eight home runs, 18 doubles, and a much-improved 12.3% strikeout rate. Maintaining an excellent 7.3% walk rate, he was putting the ball in play with more authority and showcasing gap-to-gap power that plays well in the Pacific Coast League’s hitter-friendly environment.
So far in his young Rockies career, he has already showcased what can make him an effective hitter. He’s clubbed two home runs in his first couple of games and has become just the second Rockie all-time with four or more extra-base hits in his first four MLB games.
The key to Bernabel will be the ability to make solid contact. If he can avoid the pitfalls of expanding the zone and getting overly aggressive on pitches, there is a chance he can continue to excel.
More encouraging, though, is the positional flexibility. Initially signed as a shortstop, he was moved to third base, where he has spent most of his professional career. However, he’s picked up first base over these last two seasons, and that seems to be the primary spot the Rockies want to give him a good look at. Early impressions suggest he’s decent enough and could improve with more time.
He’s likely never going to be a plus defender, but if he can be passable at multiple spots, it pairs well with his bat if it continues to be valuable, especially for a team still figuring out what its infield core will look like in 2026 and beyond.
What exactly this means for Michael Toglia and first base is something to watch over the final months into the offseason. Toglia was thought to be the answer after his breakout season in 2025, but the immense struggles this year have seen him fall out of favor with the club, leaving his position up for the taking.
There’s a world where Bernabel becomes the kind of player the Rockies often lack: a homegrown bench bat who can fill in capably around the infield and provide competitive at-bats. There’s also still a chance he taps into more power, improves his walk rate, and forces the Rockies to reconsider his long-term ceiling.
For now, Warming Bernabel is back on the radar. And for a player who seemed to be fading from the picture, that’s a meaningful step in the right direction. The Rockies are at a point where they should be throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks, and for Bernabel, it’s an incredible opportunity to prove his mettle.
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On the Farm
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 12, Sacramento River Cats 2
The Albuquerque Isotopes belted five home runs as part of a 13 hit barrage in their victory. Adael Amador went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI while Zac Veen had a home run along with Braxton Fulford. Jose Torres and Keston Hiura also had home runs. Anthony Molina cruised through 5 1⁄3 innings, allowing no runs on four hits with four strikeouts.
Double-A: Reading Fightin’ Phils 10, Hartford Yard Goats 2
Jared Thomas hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first, and Charlie Condon laced an RBI double in the third, but that would be all the runs Hartford could muster in the loss. Jack Mahoney started on the hill and fired 4 2⁄3 innings, giving up four runs, but only two were earned. He had five strikeouts and three walks. The bullpen was fairly strong, save for a rough outing for Sam Weatherly that saw Reading score five runs on him in the top of the ninth.
High-A: Hillsboro Hops 5, Spokane Indians 2
Spokane had eight hits on the night but scored just two runs, both in the first inning, during their loss. Aidan Longwell went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Blake Wright went 1-for-3 with an RBI, accounting for all the runs for the Indians. The team struck out 12 times, going 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Alberto Pacheco started on the hill and allowed one run over six innings, but the bullpen didn’t fare as well, with three relievers combining to allow four runs over three innings.
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies 5, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4
It was a walk-off victory in Fresno, courtesy of a wild pitch in the ninth to score Yeiker Reyes. The Grizzlies held a 1-0 lead until giving up three runs in the top of the fifth. They eventually tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth, leading to the win in the ninth. Derek Bernard led the offense with a pair of hits and two RBI, while Juan Castillo had three hits. Marcos Herrera turned in a quality start with three runs over six innings with nine strikeouts.
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Affected by Altitude Episode 172: ByeMac | Rocky Mountain Rooftop
This week Evan Lang and I say goodbye to Ryan McMahon and speculate what comes next for third base and how the Rockies need to address the trade deadline.
Coffee and a custom-taped mound: How Blalock turned around season with Rox | MLB.com
It’s been a wild season for Bradley Blalock. He earned a spot out of spring training, but struggled immensely. However, a small outing with Scott Oberg to get coffee and talk back in May has turned his season around and he’s on quite the hot stretch of late.
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