Warming Bernabel

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #27 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Bernabel signed for $900,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 and showed promising hitting skills on the complex and at both Class A levels. After hitting .295/.355/.470 across Low-A and High-A in 2022, the Rockies Bernabel moved to Double-A Hartford. Bernabel’s hyper-aggressive approach was exposed against more advanced pitching and he hit just .225/.270/.338 with six home runs over 83 games.
  
  Scouting Report: During the early portion of his professional career, Bernabel got by on a combination of above-average bat-to-ball skills and a knack for finding the barrel. He shows the ability to make contact with the pitches he swings at in the zone, but his overwhelming tendency to chase adds swing-and-miss to his game. Bernabel’s raw power is below-average and his exit velocity numbers went backward in 2023. He has a knack for backspinning fly balls on contact but his approach dilutes some of his output. He is a fringe-average runner with enough range for third base. His hands and actions are sound and his throwing arm is average. Both traits give him a chance to stick at third base.
  
  The Future: If Bernabel refines his approach and adds strength he has enough skills to carve out a role as an infield depth option.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #7 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: The Rockies signed Bernabel out of the Dominican Republic for $900,000 during the 2018 international signing period. In the years since, he has developed into one of the best hitting prospects in the Rockies' system. He had a strong 2021 campaign between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Fresno, hitting .312/.367/.516 in 43 games. Bernabel was assigned to Low-A Fresno out of camp in 2022 and hit .317/.390/.504 with 10 home runs and just a 13% strikeout rate in 65 games. He was promoted to High-A Spokane in early July and hit .305/.315/.486 in 26 games before going down with an ankle injury in late August. He missed the remainder of the High-A season. Bernabel resurfaced in the Arizona Fall League, where he struggled over 15 games for Salt River.
  
  Scouting Report: Bernabel offers a bat-driven profile with elite bat-to-ball skills, an aggressive approach and bat speed-driven power. His ability to make consistent contact is his standout tool. He has rarely struck out during his professional career, with just 13.4% of his professional plate appearances ending with a strikeout. Bernabel has projectable power, but he likely peaks with average home run totals. While he has above-average bat speed, Bernabel will have to make changes to his setup in order to tap into his full raw juice. Defensively, Bernabel is a fringe-average third baseman with an average arm. He faces questions around his ability to stick there long term due to a lack of elite arm strength and first-step quickness.
  
  The Future: Bernabel brings a hit tool-driven profile with potential for average power that could fit as big league corner infielder.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Running: 45. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #16 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: The Rockies signed Bernabel for $900,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 and quickly converted him from shortstop to third base. He had a sluggish start in the Dominican Summer League but tore it up in 2021 by hitting .312/.367/.516 in 43 games split between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Fresno.
  
  Scouting Report: Bernabel is a free-swinger with raw power who rarely misses mistake pitches. That power should continue to grow, as it has throughout his short minor league career thus far. A bat-first prospect, Bernabel knows how to battle and make contact when behind in the count. Strikeouts aren’t really an issue despite his free-swinging ways. His line drive, pull-side approach is underscored by good balance and bat speed. Bernabel has a strong arm at third base but still has room to improve his footwork, lateral quickness, fluidity and internal clock. He is an average runner.
  
  The Future: Bernabel has some gaps in his game to shore up, especially defensively, but his bat has him on a path toward Coors Field. He should be tested by Double-A pitching at some point in 2022.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: The Rockies signed Bernabel out of the Dominican Republic for $900,000 during the 2018 international signing period. In the years since, he has developed into one of the best hitting prospects in the Rockies' system. He had a strong 2021 campaign between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Fresno, hitting .312/.367/.516 in 43 games. Bernabel was assigned to Low-A Fresno out of camp in 2022 and hit .317/.390/.504 with 10 home runs and just a 13% strikeout rate in 65 games. He was promoted to High-A Spokane in early July and hit .305/.315/.486 in 26 games before going down with an ankle injury in late August. He missed the remainder of the High-A season. Bernabel resurfaced in the Arizona Fall League, where he struggled over 15 games for Salt River.
  
  Scouting Report: Bernabel offers a bat-driven profile with elite bat-to-ball skills, an aggressive approach and bat speed-driven power. His ability to make consistent contact is his standout tool. He has rarely struck out during his professional career, with just 13.4% of his professional plate appearances ending with a strikeout. Bernabel has projectable power, but he likely peaks with average home run totals. While he has above-average bat speed, Bernabel will have to make changes to his setup in order to tap into his full raw juice. Defensively, Bernabel is a fringe-average third baseman with an average arm. He faces questions around his ability to stick there long term due to a lack of elite arm strength and first-step quickness.
  
  The Future: Bernabel brings a hit tool-driven profile with potential for average power that could fit as big league corner infielder.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Running: 45. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: The Rockies signed Bernabel out of the Dominican Republic for $900,000 during the 2018 international signing period. In the years since, he has developed into one of the best hitting prospects in the Rockies' system. He had a strong 2021 campaign between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Fresno, hitting .312/.367/.516 in 43 games. Bernabel was assigned to Low-A Fresno out of camp in 2022 and hit .317/.390/.504 with 10 home runs and just a 13% strikeout rate in 65 games. He was promoted to High-A Spokane in early July and hit .305/.315/.486 in 26 games before going down with an ankle injury in late August. He missed the remainder of the High-A season. Bernabel resurfaced in the Arizona Fall League, where he struggled over 15 games for Salt River.
  
  Scouting Report: Bernabel offers a bat-driven profile with elite bat-to-ball skills, an aggressive approach and bat speed-driven power. His ability to make consistent contact is his standout tool. He has rarely struck out during his professional career, with just 13.4% of his professional plate appearances ending with a strikeout. Bernabel has projectable power, but he likely peaks with average home run totals. While he has above-average bat speed, Bernabel will have to make changes to his setup in order to tap into his full raw juice. Defensively, Bernabel is a fringe-average third baseman with an average arm. He faces questions around his ability to stick there long term due to a lack of elite arm strength and first-step quickness.
  
  The Future: Bernabel brings a hit tool-driven profile with potential for average power that could fit as big league corner infielder.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Running: 45. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record:: The Rockies signed Bernabel for $900,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 and quickly converted him from shortstop to third base. He had a sluggish start in the Dominican Summer League but tore it up in 2021 by hitting .312/.367/.516 in 43 games split between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Fresno.
  
  Scouting Report: Bernabel is a free-swinger with raw power who rarely misses mistake pitches. That power should continue to grow, as it has throughout his short minor league career thus far. A bat-first prospect, Bernabel knows how to battle and make contact when behind in the count. Strikeouts aren&#39t really an issue despite his free-swinging ways. His line drive, pull-side approach is underscored by good balance and bat speed. Bernabel has a strong arm at third base but still has room to improve his footwork, lateral quickness, fluidity and internal clock. He is an average runner.
  
  The Future: Bernabel has some gaps in his game to shore up, especially defensively, but his bat has him on a path toward Coors Field. He should be tested by Double-A pitching at some point in 2022.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Rockies signed Bernabel for $900,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 and quickly converted him from shortstop to third base. He had a sluggish start in the Dominican Summer League but tore it up in 2021 by hitting .312/.367/.516 in 43 games split between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Fresno.
  
  Scouting Report: Bernabel is a free-swinger with raw power who rarely misses mistake pitches. That power should continue to grow, as it has throughout his short minor league career thus far. A bat-first prospect, Bernabel knows how to battle and make contact when behind in the count. Strikeouts aren’t really an issue despite his free-swinging ways. His line drive, pull-side approach is underscored by good balance and bat speed. Bernabel has a strong arm at third base but still has room to improve his footwork, lateral quickness, fluidity and internal clock. He is an average runner.
  
  The Future: Bernabel has some gaps in his game to shore up, especially defensively, but his bat has him on a path toward Coors Field. He should be tested by Double-A pitching at some point in 2022.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  One of the most promising hitters available in the 2018 international class, Bernabel has opened his first stateside season with a bang. He's expected to be a player who can hit for average and power, and gives the Rockies another in their collection of promising middle-diamond players.