Rockies Designate Former Top Prospect Yanquiel Fernandez For Assignment

The Colorado Rockies just made a quietly important roster move, designating former top outfield prospect Yanquiel Fernandez for assignment. This decision really highlights the organization’s depth—and some lingering concerns about his development.

Once, Fernandez looked like he could be an everyday corner outfielder with real power. Now, he’s in roster limbo as Colorado shuffles its 40-man and tries to figure out what comes next.

Rockies Create Roster Flexibility

Fernandez’s DFA came alongside another move—the Rockies traded right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli to the Yankees. These two transactions opened up a 40-man roster spot, which is a valuable thing for a team juggling young talent and offseason plans.

Fernandez is only 23, so he’s hardly done developing. But roster math? It’s not forgiving. Colorado has to balance upside against who’s ready now and who gives them more flexibility down the road.

Why the Timing Matters

Fernandez already used two of his three minor-league option years. The Rockies were running out of time to decide what to do with him.

Keeping him on the 40-man without a clear MLB role would have made it tougher to address other needs.

Major-League Opportunity, Major-League Struggles

Fernandez got his MLB debut last season. It was a big moment, but it also showed where his offensive game needs work.

In 147 plate appearances, he hit just .225/.265/.348. Strikeouts made up about 30 percent of his trips to the plate.

Those numbers echoed what scouts have been worried about for a while.

Plate Discipline Remains the Red Flag

Fernandez has always played aggressively, but big-league pitchers took advantage. His chase rates went up, his walk rate dropped, and his power didn’t really show up against tougher pitching.

Triple-A Performance Raises Questions

His struggles weren’t just in the majors. Over parts of two seasons at Triple-A, he slashed .259/.320/.437 in 409 plate appearances.

On paper, that looks decent, but those numbers came in hitter-friendly parks. It’s tough to know how much to trust them.

For a guy expected to bring real power in a corner outfield spot, the production just didn’t force Colorado’s hand.

From Top-100 Prospect to Roster Bubble

As recently as the 2023–24 offseason, Fernandez hung onto the back end of some top-100 prospect lists. That was thanks to a strong 2023, when he:

Scouts saw him as a power-over-contact guy with a plus-plus throwing arm, perfect for right field. The tools are still there, but the polish? It hasn’t caught up.

Outfield Depth Makes Fernandez Expendable

Colorado’s outfield depth made things even tougher for Fernandez. Jordan Beck, Brenton Doyle, Mickey Moniak, and Jake McCarthy are all in the mix now.

There are still questions about each of those players, but the Rockies clearly trust that group more than Fernandez at this point.

What Happens Next?

Fernandez still has one minor-league option left. The Rockies have five days to trade him before putting him on outright waivers.

That last bit of flexibility makes him a little more interesting to other teams.

A Likely Second Chance Elsewhere

Despite the designation, Fernandez probably won’t slip through the cracks. He’s got that former prospect shine, real raw power, and a cannon for an arm—traits teams just can’t resist taking a chance on.

Honestly, a small trade or even a waiver claim seems pretty likely. That’d give Fernandez a shot at a new beginning and maybe a place that actually helps him tap into his offensive upside.

For Colorado, it’s a calculated risk. It’s wild how quickly potential can get pushed aside for practicality in today’s roster moves.

 
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