Colorado Rockies prospects: Wynton Bernard and “the catch” for Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE — Wynton Bernard didn’t just make an amazing catch for the Albuquerque Isotopes. The Colorado Rockies outfield prospect did it with flair.

The Topes Slope, as it’s called in Albuquerque, the Triple-A home of the Rockies, is a challenge for any center fielder. You can read about it and its history here, but it is certainly something to know about and plan to conquer any time you’re playing a game at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park.

Sure, players like Mike Tauchman, Raimel Tapia, and Sam Hilliard have had some defensive gems on and around the Topes Slope, but no one has done it with the flair that Bernard flashed in mid-July.

Here are some thoughts from Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Wynton Bernard.

“The biggest thing is to high step it,” Bernard dished on his theory on how to beat the slope. “If you go at it at an angle, you’re going to fall every time.”

In his first season in the Rockies system, the 30-year-old Bernard has provided a veteran presence in Albuquerque, similar to what teammate Taylor Motter is bringing to the table with the Isotopes.

The defensive highlight and leadership in the clubhouse wouldn’t have been a thing had it not been for a random encounter between Bernard and Rockies manager Bud Black.

Bernard, a native of San Diego who has also been a part of the minor league systems for the Giants, Cubs, Padres, and Tigers, was working out with current Rockies first baseman Connor Joe when he did enough to nudge the Rockies into signing him to a minor league deal.

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“I talked to Jeff (Bridich, former Rockies general manager) and Zach Wilson (former Rockies farm director). I told them I heard some good things about his progress over the winter and that he had done some things with his swing from some people that I trust in San Diego,” Black recalled. “We went out and worked out one Sunday morning, and took some video. Obviously, you can tell some from video, but you really can’t tell everything, but I liked what I saw. And I’ve heard so many good things about the guy, about his work ethic and who he is as a person. All great things as far as the makeup. Then we broke down some of his tools and it made sense. There was a need for us in Triple-A with outfield depth, and Wynton has turned into a nice fit for us.”

While in Albuquerque, I asked Bernard about that career-altering workout, how he’s approaching the season, the highlight reel catch, and his appearance on “Family Feud.” You can hear my interview with him, as well as Motter, by clicking below.