SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The nerves hit Rockies outfield prospect Yanquiel Fernandez immediately upon stepping into the batter’s box.

It was last spring against the Royals when the Rockies sent Fernandez up against countryman Aroldis Chapman, forever one of the baseball beacons from Cuba. Fernandez produced a solid line-drive out and a good overall plate appearance -- after the jitters calmed.

“I went out there a little timid and not knowing how to go about it,” Fernandez said, with Rockies bullpen catcher Aaron Muñoz interpreting. “But after the first pitch, seeing his throwing mechanics, I was able to relax and have a good at-bat. I don’t know if he knew anything about me, but I definitely knew about him.”

Now it’s time for Fernandez to introduce himself in his first full Major League camp -- in his first year on the 40-man roster.

At 21, Fernandez is ranked 72nd on the MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects. He’s the No. 3 Rockies player on the list, behind switch-hitting infielder Adael Amador (No. 28), and last year's top Draft pick, right-handed pitcher Chase Dollander (No. 52). Fellow outfielder Jordan Beck is ranked No. 81. 

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, Fernandez’s calling card is 60-grade power. He knocked 17 homers in 58 games at High-A Spokane and eight in 56 games after a promotion to Double-A Hartford. He also brings a strong left arm that totaled 11 assists at the two stops. The game gave him homework assignments – 78 strikeouts in 268 plate appearances and a .206 average after the leap to Double-A, where he was one of the younger players in the Eastern League.

“I’m just trying to make good contact and show that I can be a good hitter,” said Fernandez, who left Cuba for the Dominican Republic, and signed with the Rockies for $295,000 during the 2019-20 international period.

The Cactus League season will bring about an intriguing competition. Fernandez, Beck, 2020 first-rounder Zac Veen (Rockies' No. 5 prospect), 2021 top pick Benny Montgomery (No. 8) and fast-developing Bladimir Restituyo all are in Major League camp, and 2023 supplemental first-rounder Sterlin Thompson reached Double-A last year. 

The Rockies already have had outfielders Nolan Jones, Brenton Doyle and Sean Bouchard break through to varying degrees. Outfield is part of the profile of Michael Toglia and Hunter Goodman, who saw Major League time last year. If enough show Major League potential at the level they’re beginning this season, the Rockies could use some to shore up other areas.

That’s a lot of names, but almost every player listed has some development to do before the Rockies actually have a surplus that forces decisions. A path like Fernandez’s -- blazing success at High-A followed by early struggles at Double-A -- is not uncommon.

“It’s a big jump,” Fernandez said. “I learned that it’s a very competitive league, a lot of talent. I look forward to taking what I learned in Double-A and bring it to Spring Training.

“There are a lot of young guys, and I love the competition. We’re all talented players. We’re all here to show what we can do, and we look forward to going out and proving ourselves.”

Rockies manager Bud Black has noticed Fernandez has undergone “natural maturity” physically. He’ll get a closer look.

“Last year in Double-A, there were moments of brilliance whether with the arm or with the bat,” Black said. “Statistically, it was maybe not as good as he would have hoped. He’s a year older, and big-league camp has a way of turning up the dial for guys.”

Jalen Beeks, claimed from the Rays this winter, is the only lefty of true experience in the bullpen, with Lucas Gilbreath expected to miss the start of the season as the club wants to make sure his comeback from Tommy John surgery last month is complete.

It’s not a guarantee the Rockies will carry a lefty other than Beeks as the season opens, but here are a few candidates:

Evan Justice: A fifth-round Draft pick out of North Carolina State in 2021, Justice has struck out 67 batters in 41 2/3 Minor League innings and received a callup last year (8.59 ERA in 7 1/3 innings over nine games).

“He touched the big leagues last year -- not a lot of Minor League innings, but he’s got a really good arm,” Black said. “We’ll see where that takes him. I’m glad that he got to the big leagues.”

Ty Blach: After serving as a reliever and a starter last year, Black returns as a non-roster invitee who will be stretched out as a starter. Fitting him onto the roster could be a challenge. But last year, Blach won a job and provided starter and relief depth (3-3, 5.54 ERA in 20 games, including 13 starts).

Blach also could help with multi-inning relief. The Rockies selected righty Anthony Molina from the Rays in the Rule 5 Draft, with the plan of developing him into a starter eventually, so one of the jobs could go to him. Or Black could go with a starter type who doesn’t win a rotation spot.

A 2014 first-round Draft pick by Cleveland, left-handed-hitting Bradley Zimmer batted .241 in 101 games as a rookie in 2017. However, he never made forward strides with the bat with Cleveland (2017-22), the Blue Jays (2022) or the Phillies (2022), as evidenced by his .213 batting average and .631 OPS over six seasons.

Last year, he batted .210 across 82 games in the Red Sox's and Dodgers' organizations. His speed and defense are intact, however, and the Rockies' lack of a Major League-ready backup option for Doyle in center field means Zimmer has a chance to make the team after signing a Minor League deal before camp.

To take advantage, Zimmer, 31, said he has to make sure his mind doesn’t get in the way of his bat.

“Over the years, you try this, try that, and slowly you begin to lose what made you good,” Zimmer said. “I don’t want to say that’s the case, but probably part of it is you overthink and you dive in a little too much [information] and it takes away a little of your natural ability.

“I was looking at my bat path and trying to get more consistent. I did a little of everything. But in the end, you’ve got to be up there competing and believing in yourself. Overall, I’m looking to bring my athleticism back to the box and let my natural abilities come out every day.”

Recent Rockies Spring Training coverage:

• Doyle turns to a different method to help his swing. Read more >>

• Catchers Elias Díaz and Jacob Stallings are reunited with the Rockies. Read more >>

• Daniel Bard is in camp, but mound work is a ways away. Read more >>

• Ohio State coach Bill Mosiello named his son after Rockies Hall of Famer Todd Helton. Read more >>

• Kris Bryant finds joy after two years of injury. Read more >>

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