Warming Bernabel Bio
Warming Jose Bernabel (born June 6, 2002) is a Dominican professional baseball first baseman who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies. He signed with the Rockies as an international free agent on July 2, 2018, receiving a $900,000 signing bonus, and made his MLB debut for Colorado in July 2025. After beginning his professional career in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, Bernabel steadily climbed through the minor leagues before earning his first major league call-up at age 23.
Known for his consistent contact-hitting ability and power potential, Bernabel has established himself as a versatile corner infielder capable of producing at the plate across multiple minor league levels. His path to the majors included overcoming a significant offseason incident in 2023 and continued development in the Rockies farm system before his breakthrough 2025 season at Triple-A Albuquerque.
Early Life and Background
Bernabel was born on June 6, 2002, in the Dominican Republic. His first name Warming is a portmanteau combining his father’s name Warren and his grandfather’s name Ming, reflecting the importance of family heritage in his Dominican background. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Bernabel developed his passion for baseball in a region renowned for producing professional baseball talent.
While specific details about his amateur career and educational background are limited in available sources, his exceptional skills attracted attention from MLB scouts at a young age. The Dominican Republic has a rich baseball tradition, and Bernabel emerged as a promising prospect through local development systems before signing professionally.
Path to Professional Baseball
Bernabel’s journey to professional baseball began when MLB scouts identified him as a promising talent from the Dominican Republic. His abilities as a power-hitting infielder drew interest from multiple organizations before he ultimately chose to sign with the Colorado Rockies as an international free agent. On July 2, 2018, Bernabel officially signed with the Rockies, receiving a $900,000 signing bonus that reflected the organization’s belief in his potential.
The Rockies assigned Bernabel to their Dominican Summer League affiliate for his professional debut in 2019, where he began honing his skills against competition from other international prospects. This initial professional experience provided the foundation for his development as a corner infielder with power-hitting capabilities.
Warming Bernabel Career
Minor League Development (2019–2024)
Bernabel made his professional debut in 2019 with the Dominican Summer League Rockies, gaining valuable experience in his first season of organized baseball. He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, an interruption that affected countless prospects across professional baseball.
Upon returning to play in 2021, Bernabel split time between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League (ACL) Rockies and Single-A Fresno Grizzlies. His performance in July 2021 was particularly impressive, earning him recognition as the ACL Player of the Month and demonstrating his ability to produce offensively at a consistent level.
Double-A Hartford and Rule 5 Protection (2022–2023)
Bernabel continued his development in 2022, playing for Fresno and the High-A Spokane Indians. Following the regular season, he participated in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, widely regarded as a proving ground for top minor league prospects. His strong showing throughout the fall league season caught the attention of Rockies executives, leading to a significant roster move on November 15, 2022, when the Rockies added Bernabel to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
The 2023 season with Double-A Hartford Yard Goats presented challenges for Bernabel. In 83 games, he posted a .225 batting average with a .270 on-base percentage and .338 slugging percentage, alongside 6 home runs and 28 RBI. Notably, Bernabel suffered two gunshot wounds during the offseason prior to the 2023 campaign, an incident that occurred during a robbery attempt in his native Dominican Republic on December 3, 2023. Both Bernabel and his wife were victims of this attempted robbery, with Bernabel sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to his back.
Triple-A Albuquerque and MLB Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Bernabel began the 2024 season at Double-A Hartford, where he continued developing his offensive approach. On March 28, 2024, he was designated for assignment following the promotion of Alan Trejo to the major league roster. Bernabel cleared waivers and was sent outright to Hartford on March 30. He responded with his best professional season to that point, making 120 appearances and slashing .263/.296/.359 with 9 home runs, 64 RBI, and 12 stolen bases.
The 2025 season marked Bernabel’s breakthrough. He began the year with Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, where he posted exceptional numbers across 75 games, batting .301/.356/.450 with 8 home runs, 45 RBI, and 5 stolen bases. His strong performance demanded a promotion, and on July 26, 2025, the Rockies selected Bernabel to their 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. He was named National League Player of the Week for the week of July 28 through August 3, shortly after his debut. After batting .500 with three home runs in his first seven major league games, Bernabel ended the season slashing .252/.288/.410 with 4 home runs and 14 RBI in 40 games, primarily playing first base. He missed two weeks in September after suffering a concussion.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a first baseman, Bernabel has demonstrated a balanced offensive skill set throughout his minor league career. His ability to make consistent contact, combined with developing power, has made him a reliable presence in the middle of batting orders at each level. His left-handed bat produces good line drives and extra-base hits, particularly effective at generating run production. Defensively, he provides steady hands and reliable receiving ability at first base, though his primary value lies in his offensive contributions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bernabel’s most remarkable early-career milestone came in his first week of MLB action, when he earned National League Player of the Week honors after batting .500 with three home runs in his initial seven games. This exceptional start validated years of development and patience through the minor leagues, including overcoming the significant adversity of his 2023 offseason injury.
Warming Bernabel Career Wins
Bernabel has accumulated offensive production across seven professional seasons spanning the minor leagues and his rookie MLB campaign in 2025. His career path demonstrates consistent development and increasing production at each level before earning his major league opportunity.
MLB Highlights
In his debut MLB season with the Colorado Rockies in 2025, Bernabel appeared in 40 games and posted a .252 batting average with 4 home runs and 14 RBI. His standout performance during the opening weeks of his major league career, including the National League Player of the Week award, established him as a promising young talent in the Rockies organization. He logged significant playing time at first base while adapting to major league pitching.
Minor League Achievements
Throughout his minor league career, Bernabel has shown consistent offensive production. His 2025 Triple-A performance with Albuquerque (.301 average, 8 home runs, 45 RBI in 75 games) served as the springboard to his MLB promotion. His 2024 season at Double-A Hartford (120 games, .263 average, 9 home runs, 64 RBI, 12 stolen bases) represented his most complete professional campaign prior to reaching the majors. Earlier, his July 2021 ACL Player of the Month award highlighted his ability to perform at a high level during key periods of the season.
| Competition Level | Games | Batting Average | Home Runs | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (2025) | 40 | .252 | 4 | 14 |
| Triple-A Albuquerque (2025) | 75 | .301 | 8 | 45 |
| Double-A Hartford (2024) | 120 | .263 | 9 | 64 |
Warming Bernabel Family
Family Background and Personal Heritage
Bernabel’s unique first name carries deep family significance, created as a portmanteau combining his father’s name Warren with his grandfather’s name Ming. This naming tradition reflects the importance of family connections in Dominican culture and honors the multiple generations of his family.
Personal Life
Bernabel is married. On December 3, 2023, Bernabel and his wife were victims of a robbery attempt in the Dominican Republic. During this incident, Bernabel suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his back. Despite this serious and frightening experience, Bernabel demonstrated resilience by returning to play the following season and ultimately reaching the major leagues in 2025.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented the culmination of Bernabel’s professional baseball journey, marked by his long-anticipated MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies. His path to the majors included six productive minor league seasons, with his 2025 Triple-A performance at Albuquerque (.301/.356/.450 with 8 home runs and 45 RBI in 75 games) serving as the final stepping stone. The Rockies promoted him on July 26, and he made an immediate impact by earning National League Player of the Week honors in his first full week of major league action.
Throughout his rookie season, Bernabel settled into a regular role at first base for the Rockies, appearing in 40 games and finishing with a .252 batting average, 4 home runs, and 14 RBI. His early-season success provided a strong foundation, though he faced the natural challenges of adjusting to major league pitching as the season progressed. A concussion suffered in September caused him to miss approximately two weeks of action near the season’s end.
Following the season, the Rockies made a roster decision on December 6, removing Bernabel from their 40-man roster and assigning him outright to Triple-A Albuquerque. Rather than accepting the assignment, Bernabel elected free agency, opening opportunities with other organizations for the 2026 season and beyond.