Yankees may regret trading TJ Rumfield, who ‘absolutely’ knew he could star for Rockies

Economy World


NEW YORK — When the New York Yankees traded first baseman TJ Rumfield to the Colorado Rockies in late January, few expected that months later, the left-handed hitter would have an outside shot at the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

Rumfield, however, isn’t shocked by his big-time rookie season.

Did he know he had this in him?

“Absolutely,” he said Tuesday before facing the Yankees for the first time at Yankee Stadium.

“I think as a player, you’re just waiting for your time in the minor leagues and you can perform the best you can and to your abilities and it might just not be the right moment or the right time or whatever it is. It’s just nice to have an opportunity and to be able to prove that, ‘Hey, I can do this at this level, too.’”

Rumfield, 26, is also perhaps making the Yankees have second thoughts about trading him for reliever Angel Chivilli.

In 139 games, Rumfield has been one of the better hitters at his position, posting a .299 average with 15 home runs, 67 RBIs and an .850 OPS. His 125 wRC+ was 11th among all qualified first basemen.

Entering Tuesday, he was fourth among NL position-player rookies in fWAR at 2.5, behind the St. Louis Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt (4.4), the New York Mets’ Carson Benge (3.1) and the Cincinnati Reds’ Sal Stewart (2.6).

Meanwhile, Chivilli, currently on the injured list at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, has shown flashes of dominance with his high-octane fastball but has made just 15 MLB appearances this year. The Yankees haven’t ruled out a return for Chivilli before the end of the regular season.

Rumfield said he was “really shocked” when the Yankees traded him to Colorado on Jan. 28. He had arrived early for big-league spring training and was working out at the Yankees’ player development complex in Tampa, Fla. At the time, his mindset was to “get the right eyes” on him in the organization before spring training officially started.

It came after two strong seasons in the minors for Rumfield. Last year, he hit .285 with 16 home runs and a .825 OPS in 138 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In 2024, he registered an .824 OPS in 122 games, mostly in Triple A.

T.J. Rumfield, pictured in 2025 spring training, has thrived in his rookie season with the Rockies. (George Kubas / Diamond Images via Getty Images)

But there was a problem: Rumfield was essentially blocked.

Last season, Ben Rice established himself as the Yankees’ first baseman of the future, crushing 26 home runs. The Yankees likely weren’t going to have a spot this year for Rumfield, whom they acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2021.

And for good reason. Rice has been even better offensively this year, hitting 36 home runs with a 144 OPS. The Yankees also retained Paul Goldschmidt, who has provided strong defense and production against lefties, and they acquired Luis García Jr. at the trade deadline from the Washington Nationals.

Rumfield knew there wasn’t going to be much of an opportunity for him in the Bronx.

“It’s one of those things where you’re sitting there and you could have a good year,” Rumfield said, “but Ben Rice is spectacular. He’s a great player. A great hitter. A great person. We play the same position. It’s hard to be on the same roster together.”

Rumfield’s success doesn’t appear to be a fluke. He’s among the major-league leaders in strikeout rate (13.8 percent), walk rate (11.5 percent) and whiff rate (19.3 percent). He hasn’t hit the ball particularly hard (84.3 mph average exit velocity, bottom 3rd percentile in MLB). But his expected weighted on-base percentage (.334) is solid.

And it’s not simply the Coors Field effect, as Rumfield entered Tuesday with an .807 OPS and a .391 on-base percentage in road games.

Rumfield credited several people from his time with the Yankees organization for his success, including player development leader Kevin Reese and former minor-league hitting coordinator Joe Migliaccio, who is now with the Miami Marlins. Rumfield also shouted out current Yankees coaches Dan Fiorito (first base), Ryan Hunt (director of infield, outfield, base running) and Jake Hirst (assistant hitting coach).

“They helped me so much in fielding, hitting, baseball (and) being a person,” Rumfield said. “Kind of the whole shebang.”

He had never been to Yankee Stadium before Tuesday, when he was slated to hit third for the Rockies. He wasn’t out for revenge against his former team.

“I want to perform every game, to be honest with you,” he said. “But to play in Yankee Stadium is special.”

And the Yankees may wind up wishing they got a little more for Rumfield.