Fans sitting in the right field seats at Coors Field might want to put down their nachos, Dippin’ Dots and adult beverages when Yanquiel Fernandez steps to the plate. Yes, that includes those in the second deck.
Fernandez, the Rockies’ left-handed hitting outfield prospect, can mash. On Sunday, the 22-year-old from La Habana, Cuba, hit a home run at Triple-A Las Vegas that measured 473 feet and came off his bat at 109.8 mph.
On Tuesday, Fernandez was officially promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque to the Rockies’ 26-man roster. He said it didn’t occur to him that his monster blast in Vegas would help propel him to the big leagues.
“No, no, I never thought that,” Fernandez said through a translator before Colorado hosted the Astros on Tuesday night. “I never focus on that aspect of it. I never thought that was going to be my final homer at the Triple-A level.”
Fernandez was not in the starting lineup Tuesday against lefty starter Colton Gordon, but he’ll get his at-bats soon enough when he starts getting playing time in right field. The club is eager to see what Fernandez can do against big-league pitching.
“We are going to give him opportunities after his hot June, and I’m looking forward to it,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “Big power, big arm, good defender. He’s just 22 years old. The sky is the limit for him.”
The Rockies’ No. 5 prospect (MLB Pipeline) slashed .284/.347/.502 with 13 home runs and 14 doubles in 64 games for the Isotopes this season. He sizzled in late June, hitting safely in 13 of his last 15 games, batting .407 with five homers, four doubles and 16 RBIs.
Rockies hitting coach Jordan Pacheco, who worked with Fernandez in the minors, said he is becoming a more mature hitter.
“I think he’s evolved on the discipline side, more often hitting the pitch he wants to hit, as opposed to what the pitcher wants him to swing at,” Pacheco said.
Pacheco said that Fernandez still tends to chase pitches, but his strikeout rate was only 14% at Triple-A this season.
Fernandez represented the Rockies in the All-Star Futures Game in Seattle in 2023. He generated a lot of buzz at the time.
“Yanquiel is a special talent,” said Chris Denorfia, the Double-A Hartford manager at the time. “He can impact the game in so many ways. The power potential is huge. He’s showing a developing eye for the strike zone and he has one of the strongest throwing arms I’ve seen, at this level, on any team.”
Since then, Fernandez has experienced ups and downs, especially facing minor league pitchers with more pro experience. However, he said he’s ready for his big-league closeup.
“The big thing is, I had to go from a boy to a grown man to a grown professional,” Fernandez said. “Everybody was watching me closely, especially after that (Futures Game). So you have to truly mature.”
Roster shuffle. To make room on the 26-man roster, the Rockies designated veteran outfielder Sam Hilliard for assignment.
Also, former Mariners and Padres catcher Austin Nola had his contract selected from Triple-A, while rookie catcher Braxton Fulford and right-handed pitcher Tanner Gordon were optioned.
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When asked if Fulford was sent down so that he could get more playing time and at-bats, Schaeffer said, “I believe so. We think big things about Braxton Fulford.”
Nola, 35, has hit .249 in 345 major league games over five seasons (2019-23). He spent last season in Triple-A with the Royals organization. This season, Nola has batted .347 in 26 games with Albuquerque.
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