The rookie first baseman was hit by a 96.6 mph fastball and forced to leave early.
The Colorado Rockies suffered a tough setback Monday night at Dodger Stadium when rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield exited with a right hand contusion after being struck by a 96.6 mph fastball from Emmet Sheehan in the first inning.
Rumfield initially tried to play through the pain — running the bases and even taking the field for warmups — but discomfort in his grip forced him out before the Dodgers’ first at-bat. Edouard Julien replaced him at first base.
The injury comes at a difficult time for Colorado. Rumfield has been one of the team’s most consistent bats, hitting .284 with an .810 OPS across 53 games, and was swinging hot with a .348 average over his last seven contests, including a home run in Arizona on Saturday.
Manager Warren Schaffer already faces a depleted roster, with Brenton Doyle and Jordan Beck rehabbing in Denver and starter Jose Quintana undergoing elbow imaging. Rumfield’s absence further strains an offense that has leaned heavily on his production.
While the Rockies have not released a timeline for Rumfield’s recovery, any prolonged absence would force lineup adjustments and test the team’s depth against a challenging Dodgers pitching staff.