First baseman T.J. Rumfield\u2019s life took a turn on January 28, 2026, when he found himself traded to the Colorado Rockies:<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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A Yankees surplus fit a Rockies area of need following their decision to DFA Michael Toglia<\/a> last winter.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI got a call from our farm director, Kevin Reese, with the New York Yankees,\u201d Rumfield said. \u201cHe asked me if I was at the field, and I told him \u2018No,\u2019 and he said, \u2018Well, you\u2019re gonna have a new address\u2019 and that sort of thing. So that\u2019s basically how that happened. And I basically picked myself up, moved from Tampa all the way out here to Arizona.\u201d<\/p>\n Settling in with a new team<\/p>\n So far, Rumfield is fitting in with a rebuilding Rockies.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been going good,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel like all the guys are super welcoming, and everybody\u2019s talking to each other in the game, communicating. I feel like it\u2019s just been a really welcoming environment.\u201d<\/p>\n And although he\u2019s admittedly new, what he\u2019s seen so far is encouraging.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what I\u2019m getting so far, it\u2019s been a really positive environment,\u201d Rumfield said. \u201cI feel like we\u2019re heading in the right direction, and everybody seems to be getting along, and we have a shared vision and focus.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s had a successful spring training \u2014 more on that in a moment \u2014 but for Rumfield, it marks years of hard work coming together.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s just a culmination of hard work over the course of my career,\u201d he said, \u201clike playing with the Yankees for last five seasons, being drafted by the Phillies. It\u2019s just all those years of hard work finally coming to like a fruition.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking ahead, he just wants to be a positive force: \u201cI think it\u2019s just trying to impact the Rockies in a positive way, like trying to win games and do that sort of thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Manager Warren Schaeffer is a fan.<\/p>\n \u201cI like a lot,\u201d Schaeffer said. \u201cI love his ABs. I like his homers \u2014 I think we all like his homers \u2014 but we all like his walks, too. He plays solid defense, which we don\u2019t have. He hasn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Interesting fact: Both Schaeffer and Rumfield are Virginia Tech alumni, and Schaeffer was quick to make the connection. \u201cI believe the first time I got here,\u201d Rumfield said, \u201cI went to his office to introduce myself, and I think one of the first things we said was \u2018Go Hokies,\u2019\u201d adding, \u201cit\u2019s nice to have some sort of familiarity.\u201d<\/p>\n The Battle for 1B<\/p>\n The Rockies have struggled to find a viable first baseman since CJ Cron was traded<\/a>. This year, however, they look to address that problem.<\/p>\n Actually, let me take a step back.<\/p>\n In the past, the Rockies would be searching for a first-base specialist, like the iconic Todd Helton, but with this front office, there\u2019s more interest in player versatility. Currently, four players are competing for that position: Rumfield, Charlie Condon, Blaine Crim, and Troy Johnston. (Let\u2019s set aside the utility players who could play first base.)<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Of those four players, Rumfield (L) and Crim (R) are the least versatile while Condon (R) and Johnston (L) can play multiple positions.<\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s consider the numbers. I know: Spring training stats are worthless. But right now, they\u2019re all we have to go with, so let\u2019s see what\u2019s 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 \u201cRanking the Rockies\u201d review here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rumfield: 14 AB; .357\/.500\/.1000; 3 HR; 0 SB<\/p>\n Condon: 13 AB; .538\/.625\/1.231; 3 HR; 0 SB<\/p>\n Johnston: 18 AB; .222\/.333\/.278; 0 HR; 1 SB<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n View Link<\/a><\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n So the contest is wide open.<\/p>\n If I were a betting person (and you know I\u2019m 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?<\/p>\n In the meantime, the competition at Salt River Fields is collegial.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we talk to each other about, in general, the game,\u201d Rumfield said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether we\u2019re on the field talking about fielding or in the batting cage talking about hitting, it\u2019s 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cSo it\u2019s just picking your teammates brain, just constantly having conversations.\u201d<\/p>\n This week on the internet<\/p>\n Trevor May has a strategy for pitching at elevation:<\/p>\n Thoughts?<\/p>\n Tovar ready to put full season together in \u201926 \u2014 but first, the Classic | MLB.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a complete overturn,\u201d Ezequiel Tovar said of the revamp[ing] Rockies. \u201cYou have new faces. You have a new front office. You have new players in the clubhouse \u2014 a complete overhaul and change, a new mentality. But at the end of the day, we have to find ways to win games. We\u2019re trying to find different methods to win games.\u201d In the near term, look for Tovar at short for Team Venezuela in the WBC.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Can Rockies fix swing-and-whiff offense from disastrous 2025? New hitting coach keeps it simple | Denver Post ($)<\/a><\/p>\n Patrick Saunders spoke with Rockies hitting coach Brett Pill about the strategy to improve hitting.<\/p>\n MLB Network has been visiting all MLB teams at their spring training homes. I thought Paul DePodesta\u2019s comments on \u201craising the floor\u201d were worth sharing:<\/p>\n