When 22-year-old Cuban slugger Yanquiel Fernández (no. 7 PuRP) was summoned from the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes last week to be the ninth Rockies MLB debut of the season, it was the culmination of a dream and everything his professional career had led up to so far.
Signed for $295,000 at just 16-years-old as part of the Rockies’ 2019 international free agent class, Fernández was already 6’2’’ and almost 200 pounds. Since then he’s grown both figuratively and literally.
Described by FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen as “a strapping, broad-shouldered young man with considerable thunder in his hands” with “prodigious left-handed power,” Fernández has grown into his large frame and cuts an imposing figure on the field.
Fernández immediately produced in his first professional seasons. He hit .333/.406/.531 in the Dominican Summer League, slugged an impressive 21 home runs in his first season stateside with the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies, and slugged another 17 in the less hitter-friendly environment of the High-A Spokane Indians the season after that. He was even the Rockies’ delegate for the 2023 All-Star Futures Game, where he had a base hit in front of the baseball world.
Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images
However, Fernández initially sputtered when he first reached the upper echelons of minor league baseball.
Across parts of two seasons with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats, Fernández hit .252/.308/.408 with 18 total home runs and 144 strikeouts. When he was promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque at the end of the 2024 season, he hit just .211/.268/.313 with two home runs.
Fernández found his rhythm again this season with the Isotopes, hitting .284/.347/.502 with 13 home runs through 64 games. He especially caught fire in June, where he hit five of those home runs and had a base hit in 13 of 17 games.
Soft-spoken and introspective, Fernández credited finding his maturity over any kind of mechanical adjustments for his growth this season.
“I think I’ve continued to do what’s been working for me since the start,” he told Purple Row through Rockies interpreter Edwin Perez. “I’ve been focused, I’ve been hard working. For me, every time I adjust to the next level and the adjustments that I make are more about the maturity when I’m hitting. It’s all about maturing in all aspects of the game.”
Fernández made his major league debut on July 2nd against the Houston Astros, going hitless in three at-bats with a strikeout. However, he remained focused and in his next game—under the bright Colorado sun and wearing the bright colors of the Rockies’ City Connect—he achieved his first career hit.
“It’s obviously something that you always dream of when you’re a baseball player, to get that first major league hit,” Fernández said. “I’m very happy that I was able to get the hit, and I was very happy with the reception that all the guys gave me. Everyone was very supportive, very happy for me in that moment. It’s a dream fulfilled, and it just felt very good to make that happen.”
Since then, he’s logged his first career RBI, first multi-hit game, and struck out only thee times in 15 at-bats. However, none of that will match the importance of that first big league hit.
When asked what he would do with such a special artifact of his career, the answer was obvious.
“It will go alongside my dad, who has passed,” he said. “I have a framed photo of him at home. His dream for me was always to make it to the major leagues. I made it here, got the hit. So now I’m just going to put the ball right next to the frame where it belongs.”
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Weekly Pebble Report: July 1st-July 7th
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (3-3, 35-51 Overall)
The Isotopes split a six game series with the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres) for their final homestand before the All-Star break. They started strong, winning the first two games of the series and blowing out the Chihuahuas 18-5 on Wednesday. Unfortunately, they lost their next three straight and were blown out themselves on Saturday. They salvaged a series split with a win to close out the weekend.
⬆️ Stock Up: A huge leap for Ward
Outfielder Braiden Ward was promoted to Triple-A last week and took to the new level of play immediately. Ward went 7-for-16 in his first series with the Isotopes, struck out just twice, and stole five bases on six attempts.
⬆️ Stock Up: Simple and Veen is the way you are making me feel tonight
Zac Veen (no. 4 PuRP) continues to show that he’s found his footing after spending time at the Arizona Complex. Veen is currently riding a 13-game hitting streak and had multiple hits in all but one of the games he played against El Paso. Veen went 9-for-23 in the series with a triple, a home run, seven RBIs, a stolen base, and just four strikeouts to two walks.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (2-4, 43-38 Overall)
It was a tough week for the Yard Goats as they lost the second half division lead to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets) by winning just two games in their series against them. The Yard Goats are now a game back of the Rumble Ponies, who ran away with the division in the first half.
⬆️ Stock Up: Don’t feel down, Brown
While right handed pitcher McCade Brown had a tough start against the Rumble Ponies, going just 2 2⁄3 innings while giving up five earned runs on three hits and six walks, it’s hard to ignore his body of work heading into that start. Brown was named the Rockies’ Organizational Pitcher for the month of June after posting a 1.47 ERA over four starts and 18 1⁄3 innings. He walked just three batters while striking out 26.
RHP McCade Brown was named the Rockies Organizational Pitcher of the Month for June … in four starts for Hartford during the month, went 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA (18.1 IP, 3 ER) with three walks and 26 strikeouts … in 14 games overall between Hartford and Spokane, has posted a 1.89… pic.twitter.com/crxneU2Sej
— Rockies Club Information (@RockiesClubInfo) July 3, 2025
⬇️ Stock Down: Still looking for his jets
Benny Montgomery (no. 16 PuRP) hasn’t played more than three games in a series since returning from the injured list on June 14th. Montgomery played just three games against the Rumble Ponies, going 1-for-11 with three strikeouts as the Yard Goats’ designated hitter.
High-A: Spokane Indians (3-3, 39-42 Overall)
The Indians are still looking to get back to .500 after splitting the series against the Tri-City Dust Devils. Spokane is tied for second place in the Northwest League with Tri-City after losing the league lead to Eugene (who swept Hillsboro last week).
⬆️ Stock Up: Longwell, well, well
Indians first baseman Aidan Longwell had a quiet first week of July, going 4-for-24 against Tri-City with 11 strikeouts. However, Longwell is coming off an absolutely explosive June in which he was named the Northwest League Player of the Month. In 21 games he hit .375/.429/.636 with 11 doubles, four home runs, and 24 RBIs.
⬇️ Stock Down: Don’t shoot the Messinger
Skyler Messinger had a difficult week against Tri-City, going hitless in his first four games and striking out 11 times. He had a golden sombrero twice during the week. He did go 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in the series finale.
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (3-3, 38-43 Overall)
The Grizzlies lost the final two games of their series against the Modesto Nuts (Seattle Mariners) but still managed a series split after winning three of their first four.
⬆️ Stock Up: Strike Out Hard: The Jackson Cox Story
As right-handed pitcher Jackson Cox (no. 26 PuRP) continues to find his way in a post-Tommy John surgery world, he continues to see the leash come off. Cox has slowly been adding length to his outings, and in a four inning start against the Nuts he looked excellent. Cox struck out a career high ten batters while giving up just one earned run on four hits.
Jackson Cox punctuates his outing with his 10th strikeout of the night!
A new career high for Cox who tossed four strong innings. pic.twitter.com/0ptZRM7wOn
— Fresno Grizzlies (@FresnoGrizzlies) July 4, 2025
⬆️ Stock Up: Hit em’ with the Calazzle Dazzle
Robert Calaz (no. 5 PuRP) built upon his strong June by being one of Fresno’s most valuable hitters to kick off July. Calaz went 9-for-21 and appears to have found his power stroke, hitting four home runs and a double over six games against the Nuts for a slugging percentage of 1.048 in the series.
Arizona Complex League: ACL Rockies (4-1, 30-18 Overall)
The ACL Rockies fell a game short of a clean sweep last week, winning four of five in the desert and scoring four or more runs in three games.
⬆️ Stock Up: Check yourself before you Brecht yourself
Right-handed pitcher and 2024 first round pick Brody Brecht had two strong outings in Arizona as he rehabs his way back from injury. Brecht pitched back-to-back two inning shutout appearances, giving up just two hits and a walk over four innings and striking out a total of six batters.
⬇️ Stock Down: Say it ain’t soldy, Roldy…
Infielder Roldy Brito—who might just be the ACL Rockies’ most valuable player so far this season—had what could be considered his first bad week. Brito appeared in just two games, going 1-for-5 with a walk.
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Prospect of the Week!
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