Bernabel, 23, made his MLB debut in July. He got off to a torrid start, going 14-for-28 with three home runs in his first seven games. Bernabel cooled off considerably after that incredible first week, hitting just .189 the rest of the way with one home run. A concussion cost him a few weeks in September. He finished his first appearance at the top level with a 78 wRC+ over 40 games.
Colorado added Bernabel as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2018. He showed a consistent ability to connect and score hits in the lower levels of the minors before hitting a roadblock at Double-A in 2023. Bernabel hit just .225 with Hartford, while striking out at a rate of over 20% for the first time as a professional. He had lukewarm results at the same level in 2024, but was bumped up to Triple-A this past year and performed well. Bernabel hit .301 in 75 games with Albuquerque, earning a promotion to the major league club.
Bernabel has played primarily in the corner infield, with the majority of his appearances in Colorado coming at first base. Bernabel has also spent time at DH, which may suit him better in the longer term. Scouts rated him as an average to poor fielder, and he recorded -2 Outs Above Average during his brief stint with the Rockies.
If Bernabel wants to succeed at the highest level, he will have to find a way to influence the ball better. He recorded a disappointing percentage of 32.5% of those seriously affected and an average exit speed of 135.4 km/h. Bernabel only managed to score three tons on 114 batted balls. He pulled the ball at an increased rate of 42.1%, which could help his sub-par batted ball stats lead to modest power, but the home run binge to start his MLB career appears to have been an aberration.
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