National recognition has found TJ Rumfield.
The Rockies’ talented first baseman was honored as the National League Rookie of the Month for May, Major League Baseball announced Wednesday.
Rumfield, 26, appeared in 25 games for the Rockies in May, slashing .310/.400/.483 with 13 runs scored, three doubles, four home runs, and 12 RBIs. He was at or near the top of the charts in several categories: batting average (first), on-base percentage (first), OPS (.883, first), home runs (tied for first), slugging percentage (second), hits (27, third), RBIs (third) and total bases (42, third).
Rumfield’s glove has been golden, too. He has not committed an error in 374 total chances.
He is the sixth Rockies player in franchise history to earn rookie of the month honors and the first since Nolan Jones won the award for September and October 2023.
For most young players, their first season in the majors is characterized by hot streaks and slumps. But Rumfield has been remarkably consistent, never going more than three games in a row without a hit.
“I think I’m most proud of my ability to take my results day to day and not read too much into certain days,” the left-handed hitter told The Post last week. “If I go 0 for 4, or if I go a 3 for something … whatever happens that day, I feel like I can leave it at the yard. I have done a really good job of that this year and not taking it home to my wife (Hayden) and kid (Belle).”
Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer has been impressed.
“TJ has the ability to mentally stay the same every day, no matter the environment,” Schaeffer told The Post. “Whether he’s at Coors Field or Dodger Stadium, wherever he is …
“He’s doing that for the first time in the big leagues, and that just shows me he’s going to be like that his entire career. Thatap impressive.”
