Rockies' Yanquiel Fernandez: Hits first career homer
Rotowire
Fernandez went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run during Friday's 17-16 win over the Pirates.
With the Rockies down by six in the bottom of the eighth, Fernandez jumpstarted the final wave of the Colorado comeback with a two-run home run off the bench, his first as a big leaguer. Since being called up from Triple-A Albuquerque in early July, the 22-year-old has seen relatively irregular playing time and has been limited to a .224/.240/.327 slash line over 50 plate appearances.
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Rockies' Yanquiel Fernandez: Not in Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Fernandez is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox.
It's the first time in six games versus right-handed pitching since his recall that the left-handed-batting Fernandez is not in the lineup. Tyler Freeman is in right field and Mickey Moniak will be the designated hitter as the Rockies take on righty Brayan Bello and the Red Sox.
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Rockies' Yanquiel Fernandez: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Rockies optioned Fernandez to Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday.
Fernandez is still waiting to make his MLB debut, but he's heading into his second season as a member of the 40-man roster and could be in line to join the Rockies at some point in 2025. The 22-year-old outfielder will first need to show improvement after struggling in his initial taste of the Pacific Coast League upon being promoted from Double-A Hartford last August. Over his 138 plate appearances with Albuquerque, Fernandez slashed .211/.268/.313 with two home runs and 18 RBI.
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Rockies' Yanquiel Fernandez: Making more contact
Rotowire
Fernandez is hitting .277 with a .320 on-base percentage and five home runs in 201 plate appearances for Double-A Hartford.
Fernandez has established at past stops that he has at least plus raw power, but while he has improved as a contact hitter in a return to the Eastern League (64.2 Contact% in 2023, 77.7 Contact% in 2024), he's sacrificing impact at the dish. The Cuban right fielder has a poor 19.9 percent soft-hit rate and a career-worst 28 percent infield-flyball rate. He's still just 21 -- the eighth-youngest qualified hitter in the Eastern League -- and the park at Hartford is the most pitcher-friendly home park Fernandez will play in for as long as he remains in the Rockies organization.
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Rockies' Yanquiel Fernandez: Optioned to Double-A
Rotowire
Fernandez was optioned to Double-A Hartford on Friday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Fernandez went 3-for-13 with a homer in seven Cactus League contests, but the 21-year-old was always destined to head back to the minors. He's mega-talented and has loads of fantasy upside if he can rein in the strikeouts.
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Rockies' Yanquiel Fernandez: Added to 40-man
Rotowire
The Rockies selected Fernandez to their 40-man roster Tuesday.
Fernandez, 20, put up a .799 OPS with 25 home runs and 92 RBI over 117 games this past season between Low-A Fresno, High-A Spokane and Double-A Hartford. The young outfielder is now protected from selection in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.
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Rockies' Yanquiel Fernandez: Homers in first Double-A game
Rotowire
Fernandez went 1-for-4 with a home run and two strikeouts in his debut for Double-A Hartford on Tuesday.
The Cuban slugger took full advantage of the advantageous hitting conditions at High-A Spokane, slashing .319/.354/.605 with 17 home runs in 58 games before getting promoted to Double-A. Hartford is a more neutral park, so this will be a big test for the 20-year-old as he will routinely be facing pitchers several years his senior. Fernandez's raw power is a clear strength, but he rarely sees a pitch he doesn't like, so it wouldn't be surprising if he goes through some growing pains as one of the youngest players at Double-A.
