"First signed by the Rockies organization out of the Dominican Republic as an international free agent, Bernabel spent his entire career with Colorado before hitting free agency this offseason. In 75 games with Triple-A Albuquerque this year, he hit .301 with an .806 OPS, showing strong contact skills. His path hasn't been easy. In addition to recurring back injuries, he even recovered from gunshot wounds after being caught in the crossfire of a robbery attempt in the Dominican Republic. That resilience and his Triple-A performance helped him earn a late-July call-up to Colorado."
"His debut was impossible to ignore. His unique first name grabbed headlines, but it was his red-hot start at the plate that truly put him on the map. In his first week in the big leagues, Bernabel went 14-for-28 with three home runs and seven extra-base hits, earning National League Player of the Week honors. According to OptaSTATS, he became just the second player since 1900 to record at least 14 hits and eight extra-base hits through his first seven games. The only other player to do it was Mitchell Page in 1977."
"After Bernabel's explosive start, the bat went quiet. He hit just .189 the rest of the way and missed time with a concussion. He finished the season hitting .252 with four home runs and a .698 OPS over 40 games. His advanced metrics underwhelmed across the board, which likely played a role in the Rockies' decision to move on. They outrighted him after the season, and he elected free agency. He'll now be in Nationals camp with a chance to earn his way back."
Bernabel, a 23-year-old corner infielder listed at 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, signed a minor league deal with the Nationals that includes a spring training invite. He spent his career with the Rockies organization after signing as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic. In 75 Triple-A games this year he hit .301 with an .806 OPS, demonstrating strong contact skills. Bernabel overcame recurring back injuries and gunshot wounds sustained during a robbery attempt in the Dominican Republic. He earned a late-July call-up to Colorado, began with a torrid week, then cooled off and missed time with a concussion, finishing .252 in 40 MLB games.
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