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First baseman T.J. Rumfield’s life took a turn on January 28, 2026, when he found himself traded to the Colorado Rockies:
Rumfield was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2021 and was traded to the New York Yankees in November of that year. He was successful in the Yankees farm system, even earning a Gold Glove in 2023, but between Paul Goldschmidt and Ben Rice, it was clear there was not place for him on the Yankees roster.
A Yankees surplus fit a Rockies area of need following their decision to DFA Michael Toglia last winter.
President of baseball operations Paul DePodesta sent RHP Angel Chivilli to the Bronx in return for Rumfield, who learned about the trade while preparing for spring training at their complex in Tampa, Florida.
“I got a call from our farm director, Kevin Reese, with the New York Yankees,” Rumfield said. “He asked me if I was at the field, and I told him ‘No,’ and he said, ‘Well, you’re gonna have a new address’ and that sort of thing. So that’s basically how that happened. And I basically picked myself up, moved from Tampa all the way out here to Arizona.”
Settling in with a new team
So far, Rumfield is fitting in with a rebuilding Rockies.
“It’s been going good,” he said. “I feel like all the guys are super welcoming, and everybody’s talking to each other in the game, communicating. I feel like it’s just been a really welcoming environment.”
And although he’s admittedly new, what he’s seen so far is encouraging.
“From what I’m getting so far, it’s been a really positive environment,” Rumfield said. “I feel like we’re heading in the right direction, and everybody seems to be getting along, and we have a shared vision and focus.”
He’s had a successful spring training — more on that in a moment — but for Rumfield, it marks years of hard work coming together.
“I think it’s just a culmination of hard work over the course of my career,” he said, “like playing with the Yankees for last five seasons, being drafted by the Phillies. It’s just all those years of hard work finally coming to like a fruition.”
Looking ahead, he just wants to be a positive force: “I think it’s just trying to impact the Rockies in a positive way, like trying to win games and do that sort of thing.”
Manager Warren Schaeffer is a fan.
“I like a lot,” Schaeffer said. “I love his ABs. I like his homers — I think we all like his homers — but we all like his walks, too. He plays solid defense, which we don’t have. He hasn’t got a ton of action out there, but you can tell that he moves around well over there. I love his confidence, love the way he interacts with people. TJ is doing a good job right now.”
Interesting fact: Both Schaeffer and Rumfield are Virginia Tech alumni, and Schaeffer was quick to make the connection. “I believe the first time I got here,” Rumfield said, “I went to his office to introduce myself, and I think one of the first things we said was ‘Go Hokies,’” adding, “it’s nice to have some sort of familiarity.”
The Battle for 1B
The Rockies have struggled to find a viable first baseman since CJ Cron was traded. This year, however, they look to address that problem.
Actually, let me take a step back.
In the past, the Rockies would be searching for a first-base specialist, like the iconic Todd Helton, but with this front office, there’s more interest in player versatility. Currently, four players are competing for that position: Rumfield, Charlie Condon, Blaine Crim, and Troy Johnston. (Let’s set aside the utility players who could play first base.)
Of those four players, Rumfield (L) and Crim (R) are the least versatile while Condon (R) and Johnston (L) can play multiple positions.
Now, let’s consider the numbers. I know: Spring training stats are worthless. But right now, they’re all we have to go with, so let’s see what’s there with all relevant caveats applying, including the fact that Crim has been unable to play due to an oblique injury though you can read his “Ranking the Rockies” review here.
- Rumfield: 14 AB; .357/.500/.1000; 3 HR; 0 SB
- Condon: 13 AB; .538/.625/1.231; 3 HR; 0 SB
- Johnston: 18 AB; .222/.333/.278; 0 HR; 1 SB
Obviously, Rumfield and Condon are not going to stay this hot, and Johnston is better than his spring training numbers show. In 2025, he had 112 ABs and finished the season slashing .331/.420/.750 with four homers and two stolen bases. Similarly, last season in 54 ABs, Crim slashed .241/.295/.556 with five home runs and no stolen bases.
So the contest is wide open.
If I were a betting person (and you know I’m not), I would expect Condon and Crim to start the season in Triple-A Albuquerque with Rumfield breaking camp with the Rockies as their primary first baseman with switch-hitting Edouard Julien as the RH platoon bat. The Rockies, then, will have to decide what happens to Johnston. Can they use him in a utility role, or would they send him to ABQ as well?
In the meantime, the competition at Salt River Fields is collegial.
“I think we talk to each other about, in general, the game,” Rumfield said.
“Whether we’re on the field talking about fielding or in the batting cage talking about hitting, it’s just all about sharing ideas because you never know if you pick something up from one guy and you can use that in the game,” he said.
“So it’s just picking your teammates brain, just constantly having conversations.”
This week on the internet
Trevor May has a strategy for pitching at elevation:
Thoughts?
Tovar ready to put full season together in ’26 — but first, the Classic | MLB.com
“It’s a complete overturn,” Ezequiel Tovar said of the revamp[ing] Rockies. “You have new faces. You have a new front office. You have new players in the clubhouse — a complete overhaul and change, a new mentality. But at the end of the day, we have to find ways to win games. We’re trying to find different methods to win games.” In the near term, look for Tovar at short for Team Venezuela in the WBC.
Patrick Saunders spoke with Rockies hitting coach Brett Pill about the strategy to improve hitting.
MLB Network has been visiting all MLB teams at their spring training homes. I thought Paul DePodesta’s comments on “raising the floor” were worth sharing:
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