Last week, Rawlings announced his 2026 Gold Glove finalists. Perhaps surprising to some (but not Colorado Rockies fans) was the inclusion of Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield along with Matt Olson and Ty France.
“It’s not easy to do in the first year,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said by phone last week.
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Of Rumfield’s defense, Schaeffer said, “He was strong and steady.”
Rumfield is one of five rookies since the 1901 season with at least 1,150 innings at first base and has seven or fewer errors, along with Todd Helton (1998), Travis Lee (1998, ARI), Freddie Freeman (2011, ATL), and Nolan Schanuel (2024, LAA).
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So we have to consider how he compares to his finalists defensively rather than what he brings to the Rockies team building.
With competition
Note, Rumfield was acquired by the Rockies in a trade from the New York Yankees.
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“TJ, I think, has always been a pretty idle prospect,” said Amir Mamdani, the Rockies’ director of baseball operations, via text message. “I think in part because it doesn’t meet the archetype of a typical 1B seal.”
He continued, “I think TJ’s gift, which we are lucky to see on display for 155 games, is that we feel terrible to hit. He always put the ball in play at an impressive rate, and when the power was more modest (15-20 HR time), he always always held his own, as he moved through the New York system, and finally they were seen pretty closed there, Paul after Ben Rice.
The Rockies would be happy to use the Yankees surplus.
In 2026, Rumfield saw his first year of MLB play, and he made the most of it. Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves is 32 and already a three-time Gold Glove winner. San Diego Padre Ty France, also 32, won the Gold Glove.
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Rumfield is the only newbie of the group, and while the MiLB Glove won the first Gold Glove in 2023, the announcement is another way to announce the arrival of the rookie.
Now to the numbers.
Here’s how the three finalists compare defensively with defensive metrics as revealed by FanGraphs:
Comparison of Standard Defensive Metrics: Olson, Gallia, Rumfield | FanGraphs
Olson has played significantly more defensive innings (1424.0) than Rumfield (1156.1), and both are well ahead of France (1030.1). Although Olson has more errors than Rumfield, the number of innings he has pitched is hard to hold against him. Olson also started and completed more double plays than either of the finalists. By this metric, Olson has clearly made a case for a fourth Gold Glove.
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So consider what the advanced defensive metrics show, again via FanGraphs:
Comparison of Advanced Defensive Metrics: Olson, France, Rumfield | FanGraphs
Although France leads the trio in defensive runs saved, Olson once again has better numbers in terms of above-average scoring and field run value.
Rumfield had a 2026 that put him in the Rookie of the Year conversation, but the numbers indicate he’s not a Gold Glove front runner.
Still, he was a huge Rockies first baseman.
“To put it between Matt Olson and Ty France,” Schaeffer said, “Those are two really good defenders, and I’m proud of TJ for the work he does every day to get there.”
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Considering what it brings to the Flint
Schaeffer is quick to recognize what Rumfield means to Colorado.
“For a big guy there, who are a lot of first-timers, they have soft hands,” Schaeffer said, “and he makes almost every play there — the hard plays.”
And not only the stories that Rumfield makes; also how you anchor your infield teammates.
“He’s got athletic ability,” Schaeffer said, “and for me as an infielder myself, the biggest thing for a first baseman was giving the other infielders confidence that you can make a big play and not make the best throw, and your guy going out there to get you there, and TJ does that on a consistent basis.”
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Schaeffer added, “I think life is easy, just easier.” [Ezequiel] Tovar et al [Kyle] Karros, and whoever was playing second base — Will Castro — and let them know. So they’re trying to make more difficult games because they know they want them abroad.”
Flint general manager Josh Brynes agrees.
“I thought they were taking shots, like the wing bangs, all those things that felt like it saved a lot of errors or points,” said Brynes by phone, adding “Infielders just, the freedom to make any throw is increased.”
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Although the Rockies have spent less time defensively than the incoming Stars, Rumfield has been active at first, which Schaeffer sees as key to any successful defensive unit.
“I mean, (if) you have a really good first baseman, you can make more plays. Kyle Karros can try to make more crazy plays where you have to make free throws. And if you have any suspicion that your first baseman can’t catch the ball, you can’t make those plays. And the same with Tovar on that side of the diamond,” Schaeffer noted.
He pointed to other MLB first basemen to illustrate his point.
“When Christian Walker was in Arizona, that good anchor in the field that they had. Matt Olson anchors that infield. Even Freddie Freeman in LA — they put it out there and they know everything is going to come. So you see really good anchor fields from first basemen who get every throw.”
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Mamdani rally.
“Defensively, I think, credit to him and all the work he’s put in,” Mandani said.
“He and Andy González have worked a lot this year, whether the red machine or other defensive drills, and I think if you look at his contribution both from a statistical point of view and defense runs saved, but also in terms of reception at first base. The number of games, even anecdotally, to make scoops, or to catch balls, to be able to catch a big target. It’s stable, and I’m happy for what it’s known to be.”
It’s not unreasonable to consider Rumfield’s “Helton-esque” era.
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Even if Rumfield isn’t a 2026 Gold Glove winner, it’s a big accolade, and he’s built on his progress this year.
“Just being a finalist, this is awesome as a rookie among them (players),” Schaeffer said. “TJ, he set the bar for himself in his first year.”
The Gold Gloves winners will be announced on November 1, 2016.
This story has been updated to include comments from Rockies general manager Josh Byrnes.
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