The Colorado Rockies had several connections to Virginia Tech prior to the 2026 season.
They got another one that played a big role on the field – rookie slugger TJ Rumfield hit .300 with 16 homers and 73 RBI. He led the National League with an on-base average of .390.
Rumfeld, a Richmond native, who played high school ball in Texasappeared in one season for the Hokies and was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 12th round in 2021. He was traded to the New York Yankees after the 2021 season then swapped to the Rockies prior to the 2026 campaign. Rumfield was a Gold Glove finalist at first base this year.
Former Virginia Tech player Warren Schaeffer is the manager for the Rockies. His wife is Callie (Rhodes), who played softball at Broadway High School and Virginia Tech.
“Although TJ was only at VT for one season, Warren said it was great having another Hokie,” Callie Schaeffer wrote recently to AFP.
Schaeffer was named the interim manager late in the 2025 season after the dismissal of Bud Blacka veteran skipper in the National League.
The interim tag was removed for Schaeffer before the 2026 campaign – one in which the Rockies were 58-104.
Callie Schaeffer and their children lived in the Pittsburgh area most of the season. Warren Schaeffer is from western Pennsylvania and was a high school standout there before heading to Blacksburg.
“The season went well for our family,” Callie Schaeffer noted. “We spent most of Spring Training with Warren (in Arizona) and then tried to travel to see him every few weeks during the season.”
“The kids and I drove out for a six-week western adventure trip,” she added. “We visited several National parks and monuments, hiked, camped and went paddle boarding in between our visits to Denver.”
Callie Schaeffer makes trips to Virginia when she can. But home is now in western Pennsylvania. Warren Schaeffer reached the Triple-A level as a player in the Colorado system – including a stint in Asheville in western North Carolina – before making the move to coaching.
“We are enjoying having Warren back home with us. He got to attend a few of Emmy’s softball practices and games and also got to go with Beau on a camping trip with his Trail Life troop,” Callie Schaeffer added of their two children.
During the season, the Rockies traded Gold Glove center fielder Brenton Doyle to the Chicago White Sox.
Doyle grew up in Northern Virginiaplayed in college at Division II Shepherd in West Virginia and briefly in the Rockingham County Baseball League with New Market.
Other RCBL alums to appear in the major this year include:
- Brenan Hanifee (Turner Ashby High, Detroit Tigers)
- Chase DeLauter (JMU, Cleveland Guardians)
- Will Wagner (Liberty University, San Diego Padres)
- Bradley Hanner (Patrick Henry Community College, New York Yankees)
Busy fall for the Eatons
The first trade of the off-season involved Richmond-area native Nate Eatonwho starred at Thomas Dale High School and at VMI.
He was dealt in late October by the Boston Red Sox to the A’s. This season he hit .160 with one homer in 24 games with the Red Sox while also spending time at Triple-A Worcester.
Eaton is related to Konner Eatona promising lefty pitcher in the Colorado farm system who went to Prince George High School.
A former pitcher at George MasonKonner Eaton was one of only three qualified pitchers with an ERA of 0.00 in the Arizona Fall League as of Oct. 31. He had thrown nine innings during that time with the Salt River Rafters.
World Series connections
A Virginia tie to the world champion Milwaukee Brewers is Chesapeake native Garrett Stallingswho pitched in six games for the Brewers during the regular season and posted an ERA of 0.00 in 14 innings, with one save.
The University of Tennessee standout was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels out of college then traded to the Baltimore Orioles. The Birds sent him to the Brewers in 2024, and Stallings made his MLB debut in July. He was not on the World Series roster.
“It has been very cool to circle back” and talk to some of his Brewer teammates from this season, Stallings told a TV station in the Tidewater area after the Brewers won the title.
Other Virginia ties to World Series winners this decade include:
- Los Angeles Dodgers, 2024 and 2025: Former William & Mary infielder Will Rhymes has worked in the front office of the Dodgers for several years. He played in the farm system of the Washington Nationals in the late part of his career. Frank W. Cox High School and University of Virginia product Chris Taylor played 28 games for the Dodgers in 2025.
- Texas Rangers, 2023: Caroline County native Tony Beasley was a coach when the Rangers won the title. The manager was Bruce Bochywho lived in Falls Church as a young boy. A member of the front office was Dayton Moorewho played at George Mason and in the Valley Baseball League. McLean High School and Virginia product Josh Sborz was on the mound and got the last out for the Rangers.
- Houston Astros, 2022: Goochland High School and ODU star Justin Verlander was 18-4 for the Astros in 2022.
- Atlanta Braves, 2021: Former manager Brian Snitker played for the Staunton Braves in the 1970s.
- Los Angeles Dodgers, 2020: Chris Taylor hit a homer in the World Series against Tampa Bay.
An honor for Billy Wagner
Lefty reliever Billy Wagnerwho went into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025, was honored with a statue of his likeness that was dedicated in his hometown of Tazwell on Oct. 17.
“It’s so hard to stand here and take this honor,” Wagner said through tears, according to a local TV website. “When it was you guys that inspired me to be the best.”
Wagner was the sixth native of Virginia and the first from the southwest part of the state to reach Cooperstown. The first was another lefty pitcher – Eppa Rixeywho was born in Culpepergrew up in Charlottesville and pitched for the University of Virginia.
New Hall of Fame class
The Virginia Baseball Coaches Association recently named its 2026 Hall of Fame classwhich will be honored in Charlottesville in December.
The new class is:
- Jim Procopiowho was the Amherst High School coach from 1968 to 2023 during which the school had three future big leaguers: Ken Dixonwho broke in with the Baltimore Orioles; Randy Tomlinwho pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates; and catcher Mike Hubbardwho starred at JMU before appearing in The Show with several teams.
- Gerry Thomasthe head coach at then Lynchburg College for 23 years starting in 1969. He won more than 500 games, had a winning percentage of .729, and coached John Hobbswho pitched in 1981 for the Minnesota Twins.
- Rob Hahnewho coached in high school at Westfield and Langley in Northern Virginiaand was part of the American Baseball Coaches Association for 31 years. He also helped start the summer college league in Tysons Corner before passing away this past May.
- Ken Moorethe former coach at Douglas Freeman High School.
- Phil Forbes IIIthe former coach at Menchville who won 553 games in his career. His grandson, Phil Forbes Vplayed baseball at JMU, Louisburg and VCU.
- Eddie Icenhourwho coached 25 years at Virginia High School in Bristol with 361 wins and four state titles.
- Ben Jonesthe Coach of the Year from the Apprentice School.
- Bob Baltimorethe former Powhatan coach who is the Impact Award winner.
