Outfield prospect Yanquiel Fernandez will be promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque to the Rockies on Tuesday, a major league source confirmed.
The news was first reported by Francys Romero.
The Rockies are also calling up veteran catcher Austin Nola on Tuesday, meaning that starting catcher Hunter Goodman is likely headed to the 10-day injured list because of a sore hamstring. Goodman, who’s having an All-Star worthy season, was originally projected to be ready to play against the Astros on Tuesday night at Coors Field.
Fernandez, 22, is ranked as Colorado’s No. 7 prospect by MLB Pipeline. From La Habana, Cuba, he was part of the Rockies’ 2019 international class, joining the organization when he was 16.
The left-handed hitter slashed .284/.347/.502 with 13 home runs, 14 doubles and 39 RBIs in 64 games for the Isotopes this season. The right fielder has been hot in June, slashing .364/.394/.652 with five home runs and four doubles in 17 games.
Fernandez is already on the 40-man roster, so Colorado will only have to make an active roster move.
Fernandez made a big splash early in his pro career. In 2022 with Low-A Fresno, he hit 21 home runs while slashing .284/.340/.507 with 109 RBIs. And in the first half of 2023 (58 games) with High-A Spokane, he hit 17 home runs and slashed .319/.354/.605.
However, Fernandez wasn’t as productive once he was promoted to Double-A Hartford, hitting just .206 with eight homers in 56 games in ’23, and hitting .283 with just 10 homers in 89 games with the Yard Goats in ’24.
Promoted to Triple-A at the end of last season, Fernandez hit .211 with two homers in 33 games with the Isotopes.
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