The key for Rumfield's rookie success? Sticking with his daily 'vision board'

ATLANTA -- The writings that Rockies rookie TJ Rumfield enters into his notebook with the stylish blue cover (more on that later) prove that good writing and good hitting can be one in the same. Clear thoughts work best.

“It’s just trying to hit strikes hard and lay off the balls,” Rumfield said, discussing an approach that puts him at or near the top among rookies in both the National League and the Majors in key offensive categories. “If I feel like I can’t hit it hard, or feel like I can’t hit it, I probably shouldn’t swing at it.”

Rumfield’s has been stunningly dependable. His batting average has stayed above .280 since June 23, and since June 27 he has spent exactly one day with an on-base percentage below .370.

The consistency is special given that he hasn’t homered since July 18 -- meaning he has not abandoned his approach for that one, alluring category. The lack of homers appears to be hurting Rumfield in early NL Rookie of the Year forecasting, but Baseball Writers' Association of America voters who actually have a say-so will have solid data. And, as of Friday, that data showed that Rumfield was tied for first among MLB rookies in batting average (.290) and third in OPS (.822). Rumfield also led NL rookies in doubles (26) and OBP (.382), was fifth in slugging (.440), second in RBIs (61), as well as third in hits (133) and total bases (202).

Rumfield displayed plenty of consistency during the Rockies’ 6-4 loss to the Braves at Truist Park on Friday night. He drew a second-inning leadoff walk from starter Grant Holmes, then singled with one out in the fourth.

In the fifth, Rumfield drove in a run on an infield grounder against Holmes to cut Colorado's deficit to 4-3, and he drew a one-out walk -- left-on-left -- from Ray Kerr to load the bases and set up Willi Castro’s sacrifice fly in the seventh that made it 6-4.

With one on in the ninth, Rumfield -- representing the tying run -- smashed a Raisel Iglesias pitch hard along the ground, but Braves first baseman Matt Olson made a diving stop to begin a double play. Ozzie Albies’ diving catch of a Castro liner ended the game.

“We have a group of talented guys -- obviously, it didn’t go our way tonight, but there are a lot of good things that we can take away from this game,” Rumfield said. “We stayed in the fight. But these are the games we need to win in the future if we’re going to be the team we say we want to be. So try to find little ways to compartmentalize this so it helps us in the future.”

Friday’s strong offensive game against the Braves came one day after Rumfield walked four times and reached base five times during Colorado's series-finale loss to the Nationals.

“It’s usually the veteran guys that show that they’re going to be who they are, no matter what,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “There are probably times that TJ has wanted to hit more homers or stuff like that. But in general, he’s been who he is and stays within himself. That’s why he’s having such a really good year.”

The writer in Rumfield helps the hitter stay in check.

“I try to write something down from the day that happened, and try to build off that one thing,” Rumfield said. “If I have too many focuses, things start to get away from me. I try to do too much. Or, if I don’t write something down from a day, it’s like that day was lost to me.

“It might be like a journal entry -- just write the date and what I’m feeling that day. Even if I’m feeling something bad, I write that down and -- at least out there -- I can try to work on it.”

Selected by the Phillies out of Virginia Tech in the 12th round of the 2021 Draft, Rumfield was traded to the Yankees the following November. New York issued journals to players, and Rumfield has kept up the entries. He smiled and said he doesn’t break out the 3”x5” notebook much around the Rockies, since the familiar interlocking “NY” is embossed on the cover.

But Colorado has benefitted from Rumfield’s routine since obtaining him in an offseason trade for reliever Angel Chivilli.

Rumfield said he doesn’t know all the particulars of why the Yankees issued notebooks. The way it works for him seems rooted in psychology, since he reads it “not as often as I should.”

Simply scribbling thoughts -- on pages not already marked with crayon by Belle, the young daughter of Rumfield and his wife, Hayden -- may be enough, even if he hardly returns to them.

“When you’re writing stuff down, it’s like it’s gone from thought to actual reality,” Rumfield said. “It’s like I have a vision board -- whatever I manifest for my future is what I write down.”