The Rockies came up just short Friday night, falling 3-2 to the Cardinals in the opener of the series. Even in a tight loss, though, Colorado had one bright spot worth circling: TJ Rumfield kept swinging a hot bat.
The rookie first baseman went 3-for-4, and that performance pushed his August line to 8-for-23 through Friday’s game. For a player already making noise, it was another strong reminder that his production isn’t slowing down.
Rumfield has been giving manager Warren Schaeffer plenty to think about, and plenty to like. He’s looking like a real part of what Colorado wants to build, not just for now but for the road ahead. The numbers he’s putting up suggest this isn’t some brief burst.
He’s also fitting into a lineup that has been doing damage around him, with Jake McCarthy, Mickey Moniak, and Hunter Goodman among the names hitting in front of him. Rumfield batting fifth says plenty on its own, especially since he isn’t even the club’s home run leader. Still, he keeps producing.
That matters for a Rockies team deep into a rebuild. The season he’s putting together looks like more than a nice surprise. It looks like a player who belongs.
Colorado landed Rumfield in a trade with the New York Yankees over the offseason, and the early returns have been strong. The Rockies have to feel good about the deal so far, and they’ll be hoping this is just the start of what he can bring.
The playoffs are not in the picture this year, but Rumfield has given fans something to latch onto. He’s been a steady force in the middle of the order, and Schaeffer and company will be counting on that bat to keep carrying over as August goes on.
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That matters even more in a minor league pipeline that has been hit with its share of setbacks lately, from injuries to promotions to surgery. Alessander De La Cruz is dealing with a wrist injury, Brody Brecht underwent shoulder surgery, and those kinds of losses make steady arms like Mahoney stand out all the more. The Rockies still need more than one prospect to push forward, but Mahoneys rise has at least given the organization a little breathing room and a bit of hope. [Read more 🡒]