Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

Bernabel first put his name on the prospect map in 2021 during his United States debut, hitting .432 in 22 Arizona Complex League games to earn a bump up to full-season ball. Originally signed for $900,000 in July 2018, Bernabel then put a huge up arrow next to his name by slashing .313/.370/.499 across two levels of A ball, earning a spot on the 40-man roster that offseason. The Rockies pushed him up to Double-A in 2023 and it was a lost year between his performance and a back injury that shelved him for six weeks.

Giving him a mulligan for last year, Bernabel has some intriguing offensive traits. His knack for finding the barrel can be a blessing and a curse. He makes a ton of contact, and even in his down year, he managed his strikeouts well. But he’s often too aggressive and registered a 40 percent chase rate in 2023. There's hope that a middle ground can be found where he develops a better overall approach without losing his ability to do damage early in counts. Some improvements in terms of pitch recognition would help him tap into the raw power he has displayed at times. 

Signed as a shortstop, Bernabel has been a third baseman-only in the pro game. His hands work at the hot corner, but he’s going to have to stay on top of his conditioning, especially with his lower half, in order to stay there. There’s been some talk about sliding over to first and even what he might look like in a corner outfield spot.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45

The Rockies handed out nine bonuses of six figures or more during the 2018-19 international signing period. Bernabel was near the top of the list, getting $900,000 to sign when the period opened in July 2018. After a relatively nondescript Dominican Summer League debut in 2019, he came stateside in 2021 and has raked whenever he’s been healthy, hitting his way to full-season ball in 2021 (.312/.367/.516), and then going from Single-A to High-A in 2022 (.313/.370/.499). The only thing that slowed him at all was a concussion suffered in August. He tried to shake off the rust at instructs and got some time in the Arizona Fall League but wasn’t quite himself.

Bernabel’s feel for the barrel stands out more than anything else. He’s very aggressive early in counts, and it hasn’t hurt the right-handed hitter yet -- he’s struck out in just 13.4 percent of his plate appearances heading into 2023. He can do damage too, and he’s just starting to learn how to finish balls, with the raw pop to hit it out to all fields. A more refined approach could lead to more in-game power.

Bernabel’s defense has improved markedly, having moved from shortstop to third base after he signed. His internal clock is much better now, with his footwork and arm working in sync more consistently, and he has plenty of arm strength for the position. Added to the 40-man roster this past offseason, Bernabel seemed poised for a breakout but a back issue forced him out of action for almost two months.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50

Signed for $900,000 at the start of the 2018-19 international signing period, Bernabel turned in a relatively pedestrian pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2019. That prepared absolutely no one for him bursting on the scene in his United States debut in 2021. He proved he needed a stiffer challenge after a 1.197 OPS in 22 Arizona Complex League games, forcing a promotion up to full-season ball. He came back down to earth with Low-A Fresno, but he mastered the level in 2022 and hit his way up to High-A Spokane.

Bernabel simply loves to hit. The right-handed hitter has the chance to hit for average and power. He’s extremely aggressive but has a knack for making hard contact thanks to outstanding hand-eye coordination. He will have to learn to be more selective as he faces better pitching, and not to wear every at-bat on his sleeve, but there’s faith that his bat will play.

A shortstop when he signed, the Rockies moved Bernabel over to third. He’s still learning his body, but his hands work well and he has more than enough arm for the hot corner, with more reps sure to help him calibrate his game clock. He worked with former Rockies great Vinny Castilla at instructs on both sides of the ball.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

The Rockies handed out nine bonuses of six figures or more during the 2018-19 international signing period, led by right-hander Ronald Pereira, who received $1 million to sign on July 2. Bernabel was second on that list, getting $900K to sign out of the Dominican Republic, also at the start of the period. After a solid, though unspectacular debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, he’s taken the United States by storm in 2021, making quick work of the Arizona Complex League and holding his own as a teenager in Low-A ball.

A right-handed hitter, Bernabel is an aggressive hitter with a lot of power to tap into. He can drive the ball to all fields and has shown a knack for making a lot of contact due to his excellent hand-eye coordination and bat-to-ball skills. While Bernabel doesn’t strike out much, he also doesn’t draw many walks and he’ll have to improve his approach as he develops.

A shortstop as an amateur, Bernabel moved over to third, where he’s played almost exclusively, since signing with the Rockies. He has solid arm strength and decent hands and his footwork gives him the chance to stick at the hot corner, where his offensive profile could fit very nicely.

Awards

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2022

ACL Player of the Month

Month	Team
07/2021

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/16/2024	SS Warming Bernabel assigned to Leones del Escogido.
	03/30/2024	Colorado Rockies sent SS Warming Bernabel outright to Hartford Yard Goats.
	03/30/2024	Hartford Yard Goats activated SS Warming Bernabel.
	03/28/2024	Colorado Rockies designated SS Warming Bernabel for assignment.
	03/07/2024	Colorado Rockies Prospects activated SS Warming Bernabel.
	03/03/2024	Colorado Rockies optioned SS Warming Bernabel to Hartford Yard Goats.
	03/03/2024	Hartford Yard Goats activated SS Warming Bernabel.
	10/02/2023	Colorado Rockies recalled SS Warming Bernabel from Hartford Yard Goats.
	07/14/2023	Hartford Yard Goats activated SS Warming Bernabel from the 7-day injured list.
	07/14/2023	Hartford Yard Goats activated SS Warming Bernabel from the 7-day injured list.
	06/28/2023	Hartford Yard Goats sent SS Warming Bernabel on a rehab assignment to ACL Rockies.
	05/26/2023	Hartford Yard Goats placed SS Warming Bernabel on the 7-day injured list.
	05/26/2023	Hartford Yard Goats placed SS Warming Bernabel on the 7-day injured list.
	03/11/2023	Colorado Rockies optioned SS Warming Bernabel to Hartford Yard Goats.
	11/15/2022	Colorado Rockies selected the contract of SS Warming Bernabel from Spokane Indians.
	11/15/2022	Colorado Rockies activated SS Warming Bernabel.
	09/16/2022	Salt River Rafters activated SS Warming Bernabel.
	09/16/2022	Salt River Rafters activated SS Warming Bernabel.
	09/12/2022	Spokane Indians activated SS Warming Bernabel from the 7-day injured list.
	08/23/2022	Spokane Indians placed SS Warming Bernabel on the 7-day injured list retroactive to August 20, 2022.
	07/03/2022	SS Warming Bernabel assigned to Spokane Indians from Fresno Grizzlies.
	03/21/2022	SS Warming Bernabel assigned to Colorado Rockies.
	03/21/2022	SS Warming Bernabel roster status changed by Colorado Rockies.
	08/02/2021	SS Warming Bernabel assigned to Fresno Grizzlies from ACL Rockies.
	06/28/2021	SS Warming Bernabel assigned to ACL Rockies from Rockies Organization.
	02/12/2021	SS Warming Bernabel assigned to Rockies Organization.
	02/12/2021	SS Warming Bernabel assigned to Rockies Organization.
	03/05/2020	SS Warming Bernabel assigned to Grand Junction Rockies.
	03/05/2020	SS Warming Bernabel assigned to Grand Junction Rockies from DSL Rockies.
	07/18/2019	SS Warming Bernabel assigned to DSL Rockies from DSL Colorado.
	05/31/2019	SS Warming Bernabel assigned to DSL Colorado.
	07/02/2018	Colorado Rockies signed free agent SS Warming Bernabel to a minor league contract.