Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Returns to starting nine
Rotowire
Bernabel will bat second and play first base Saturday against the Pirates.
Bernabel was struck in the face by a baseball during pregame infield drills Thursday. He was scratched from Thursday's lineup and kept on the bench Friday. However, Bernabel has been given the green light to start Saturday's contest. He has eight hits in his last 22 at-bats (.364) with a 3:1 BB:K.
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Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Remains out of lineup
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Bernabel (face) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game in Pittsburgh.
Bernabel had to be scratched from Thursday's lineup versus the Dodgers after being struck in the face with a throw during pregame infield drills. His removal from the lineup that day was deemed precautionary, but Colorado will hold him out for at least one additional start. Orlando Arcia will cover first base in Bernabel's stead.
Bernabel isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Bernabel will get a chance to rest his legs Thursday after going 1-for-11 with an RBI during Colorado's three-game set against the Cardinals. Kyle Farmer will step in to start at first base while batting eighth.
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Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Continues blazing career start
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Bernabel went 4-for-6 with a three-run home run, a triple, two runs and four RBI during Friday's 17-16 win over the Pirates.
Bernabel has been up in the majors for just six games, and he's certainly impressed in that small sample size while taking hold of an everyday role at first base. The 23-year-old has at least one hit in all six games and multiple hits in three of them, but he had undoubtedly his best performance Friday. Overall, Bernabel is slashing .476/.500/1.000 with three home runs and seven RBI.
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Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Officially promoted to majors
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The Rockies selected Bernabel's contract from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday.
The move was anticipated after Colorado traded long-time third baseman Ryan McMahon to the Yankees on Friday. Bernabel has put together a strong season with Albuquerque, slashing .301/.356/.450 with eight home runs, 45 RBI and five stolen bases over 75 games. He logged significant time at both third base and first base in the minors, but Bernabel will likely spend most of his time at the hot corner with the Rockies after McMahon's departure and could be given the opportunity to start on a frequent basis. Neither his power nor his speed are above average, so he'll likely need to hit for a high average to be an appealing fantasy asset.
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Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Set to join big club
Rotowire
The Rockies are expected to call up Bernabel from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
The move won't be made until Saturday, but it comes after the Rockies traded Ryan McMahon to the Yankees in exchange for prospects Josh Grosz and Griffin Herring. After spending the last two seasons with Double-A Hartford, Bernabel has spent the entire 2025 season in Triple-A, where he is slashing .301/.356/.450 with five steals, 18 doubles, eight home runs and 45 RBI in 315 plate appearances. With the Rockies sporting the worst record in the majors, the 23-year-old Bernabel could have an opportunity to serve as the everyday third baseman for the rest of the season.
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Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Outrighted to Double-A
Rotowire
The Rockies outrighted Bernabel to Double-A Hartford on Saturday after he cleared waivers, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Bernabel had a dreadful 2023 season while missing time with back issues, which might have scared other teams off. He's just 21 and has shown some ability before, though, so the Rockies will gladly keep him around in the organization.
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Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Exits 40-man roster
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The Rockies designated Bernabel for assignment Thursday.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder Alan Trejo, whose contract was selected ahead of Thursday's season opener versus the Diamondbacks. Bernabel, 21, has yet to make his MLB debut and is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he turned in a .225/.270/.338 slash line over 322 plate appearances with Double-A Hartford.
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Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Sent to minors
Rotowire
The Rockies optioned Bernabel to Double-A Hartford on Sunday.
Though Bernabel is on the Rockies' 40-man roster and was attending big-league spring training, he wasn't a serious threat to win an Opening Day spot for the big club. He'll instead return to Hartford for a repeat season after he slashed .225/.270/.338 over 322 plate appearances with the affiliate in 2023.
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Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Closing in on return to Double-A
Rotowire
Bernabel (back) began a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on June 28 and has gone 11-for-33 with two home runs and four doubles over eight games.
Bernabel has resided on Double-A Hartford's 7-day injured list since May 26 with a back injury, but he looks like he could be activated shortly after the minor-league All-Star break. Prior to being shut down in late May, Bernabel had posted a .630 OPS over 126 plate appearances with Hartford.
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Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Joins 40-man roster
Rotowire
Bernabel's contract was selected by Colorado on Tuesday.
The move means Bernabel won't be available for selection in the Rule 5 draft, though he still has some work to do before he pushes for an active roster spot. The 20-year-old has yet to reach the Double-A level, though he did hit .313/.370/.499 with 14 homers and 23 steals in 91 games last season, split between Single-A and High-A.
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Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Moves up to High-A
Rotowire
Bernabel was promoted to High-A Spokane on Sunday and has gone 2-for-8 with two doubles and an RBI in his first two games there.
This comes on the heels of a terrific .317/.390/.504 batting line with 10 homers, 21 steals and a 29:39 BB:K across 67 games in Single-A. Bernabel was a standout in rookie ball last year, and the 20-year-old has built on that in a big way this season. There's no guarantee that his stolen-base ability will hold up as he progresses through the minors, as scouts have generally considered Bernabel just an average runner, but there's enough pop in his bat to make him an intriguing prospect nonetheless, particularly with the potential of the Coors Field effect.
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Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Showing aggression on basepaths
Rotowire
Bernabel has stolen 17 bases across 250 plate appearances with Single-A Fresno in 2022.
Bernabel's aggression on the basepaths has increased dramatically, as he combined to steal only 12 bases across his first 331 career minor-league plate appearances. It remains to be seen whether he can translate his baserunning ability to the upper levels of the minors, as he has largely been regarded as an average to slightly below-average runner by traditional scouting methods. In addition to his speed, however, Bernabel has also showcased considerable power by slugging six home runs and 19 doubles -- good for a .171 ISO. Bernabel just turned 20 years old, so it will be worth watching his progress as he advances through the Rockies' system.
