Counting Down Rockies Top Prospects: No. 27 Fernandez

27.  Vince Fernandez, OF

Born: 7/25/1995, 210. B-T: L/R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 210. Drafted: Cal-Riverside, 2016 (10th round). Signed by: John Lukens.

Fernandez is what scouts like to call a ballplayer. He an All Big West selection in 2016. Not that he has any one thing that stands head and shoulders above others, but the entire package fits together well. He has a great feel for the game. Defensively he does the job. He catches what needs to be caught, but isn’t going to necessarily make the eye-popping catch. He covers ample ground and has good arm strength. And he can be an offensive factor. While he struck out 122 times at Asheville last year he also ranked ninth in the South Atlantic League with a .352 on-base percentage. He was second in the league with 59 RBI and tied for fifth with 16 home runs despite playing in only 100 games. He still has room to grow offensively as he gets stronger. He has legitimate pull side power and is learning to drive the ball the other way. He will play the first half of 2018 at the age of 22, most likely at High-A Lancaster.