TAMPA -- The Rockies drafted Hunter Goodman in 2021 and identified him as a hitter, and figured they would work out details such as position later. But Goodman always saw himself as a catcher.
On Friday, the Rockies unveiled him as the Opening Day starting catcher against the Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Manager Bud Black informed Goodman on Thursday but didn¡¯t announce it until the lineup card was revealed at midday prior to Colorado's 3-2 loss.
¡°It was a great feeling,¡± said Goodman, of his first career Opening Day appearance and start. ¡°Going into it, you never know if you¡¯re going to start, but you¡¯re always ready. Hearing it from [Black] yesterday that I was going back there, I was awfully excited.¡±
Goodman, 25, was mostly a catcher in high school and at the University of Memphis. But the roundabout trip to the outfield and first base had its purpose, since it was the quickest route to his Major League debut in 2023. But last spring, the Rockies determined that he could be useful behind the plate, and a few starts there last season solidified the feeling.
A .444 batting average in Spring Training (20-for-45) with three home runs, six doubles and a triple, plus a baseball aptitude that has seen him grow defensively truly opened Colorado's eyes. Goodman will split the starts with veteran Jacob Stallings, but Black felt Goodman's bat was the right fit to give the offensive lineup a lift against Rays righty Ryan Pepiot. And Goodman responded, hitting a fourth-inning single and a sixth-inning double.
¡°You look at the stuff you¡¯ve done to get to this point and then you¡¯re like, ¡®All right, just keep doing what I¡¯m doing to get here,¡¯¡± Goodman said. ¡°Just keep it easy. Stay relaxed.¡±
The Rockies had annually invited him to Major League camp with the pitchers and catchers, since multiple pitchers need multiple guys to catch them. But last winter, bench coach and catching instructor Mike Redmond told Black that Goodman¡¯s catching deserved a longer look.
Last season, Goodman began at Triple-A Albuquerque and bounced between there and the Majors, finishing with a .190 batting average for the Rockies. Yet, the season ended on an upswing. In September, Goodman batted .226 but slugged .547 -- with five of his 12 home runs. His defensive innings were at his favorite position.
¡°Then in November, December, phone calls with Red and [new bullpen coach and former Rockies catcher Dustin] Garneau about concentrating on catching, and in the spring doing the same thing,¡± Black said. ¡°Then the bat this spring was huge. Hopefully, there¡¯s a carryover.¡±
Blocking and receiving are areas to improve, but Goodman is receiving the chance to do it while playing because of his natural catcher traits: pitch-calling and the trust pitchers have in him.
¡°He¡¯s got a good, calm demeanor and a good personality,¡± Redmond said. ¡°The way he prepares and listens to the pitchers, he¡¯s able to take all that into the game and get results. He hasn¡¯t caught a ton, but he has that experience in college and before. We talk about the position and how much we ask of catchers, but he¡¯s done a nice job this spring and at the end of last season.¡±
Becoming a full-time catcher as a Major Leaguer is like achieving his dream -- twice.
¡°I¡¯ve always talked about wanting to be there,¡± Goodman said. ¡°I¡¯m glad I¡¯m behind the plate again. So this should be fun.¡±