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Jake McCarthy Powers Rockies' Uneven Baserunning Performance
17 Sep
Summary
- Jake McCarthy's baserunning significantly boosts the Rockies' league standing.
- TJ Rumfield's slow sprint speed is the slowest on the team by a wide margin.
- The Rockies show extreme variation in baserunning talent this season.
The 2026 Colorado Rockies' baserunning performance has dramatically shifted from the previous season, now displaying significant extremes. While last year's team was notably fast but inefficient, the current squad has improved stolen base numbers and success rates, partly due to a higher overall team sprint speed average.
Jake McCarthy is the primary driver of this improvement, contributing a substantial amount to the team's baserunning value (BsR) and stolen bases. Without his impact, the Rockies would rank near the bottom of MLB in these metrics. His performance has solidified his role as the leadoff hitter.
In stark contrast, newcomer TJ Rumfield is the slowest runner on the team by a considerable margin, significantly impacting the Rockies' overall baserunning effectiveness. Despite not being caught stealing, his negative Baserunning Runs are the worst in the league, highlighting a significant disparity in the team's speed and efficiency.
This season's Rockies present a team of extremes on the basepaths, led by McCarthy's brilliance and hampered by Rumfield's struggles. Both players are expected to remain key figures in the lineup next year, indicating this unique baserunning dynamic is likely to persist.
