Hunter

Goodman

Goodman doubled off Garrett Cleavinger in the seventh inning and scored what would turn out to be the winning run on a single by Kyle Farmer. The 25-year-old has started both games at catcher for the Rockies, picking up where he left off after an impressive spring. It might be time to check your waiver wire if in need of a backstop.

Goodman will get the Opening Day nod over Jacob Stallings. Goodman is coming off an excellent spring; hitting .444/.500/.822, and the Rockies clearly want to see if the 25-year-old can carry over that production. Expect Stallings to see plenty of playing time, but this is Goodman’s job to lose.

Goodman ends the spring at .444/.500/.822, but the Rockies haven’t signaled that they’re going to try to give him time anywhere other than catcher, where he’s supposed to back up Jacob Stallings. It seems like a waste, but it might not be a problem for long, given that a team relying on Kris Bryant as an everyday player could have a spot open up at any moment. Goodman’s upside should make him viewed as a top-15 catcher in mixed leagues.

Goodman is up to .484/.543/.742 in 35 plate appearances. It’ll be quite a waste if the Rockies limit him to backup catcher duties at the beginning of the season. That was certainly the plan coming into the spring — in spite of his experience at first and in the outfield, he’s done nothing but catch in Cactus League action — but he might force their hands with this showing.

The good news for Goodman this spring is that the Rockies are taking him very seriously as a catcher. The bad news is that the team has no plans to carry a third catcher, meaning Goodman might not get much of a chance to start at other positions while serving as the backup to Jacob Stallings. In fact, Goodman hasn’t played an inning at first base or in the outfield this spring. Goodman would be a mixed-league sleeper if the Rockies had bigger plans for him.

Stallings, 35, was re-signed to a one-year contract in November with a mutual option for 2025. The expectation is that he’ll see the bulk of the starts behind the plate and Drew Romo, Hunter Goodman and Austin Nola will battle for backup duties. Even playing at Coors Field half of the time, Stallings offers minimal fantasy upside for the coming campaign.

Goodman came up huge with a game-tying homer off Kevin Ginkel in the seventh. The 24-year-old has been a solid source of power with 12 homers in 64 games, he just hasn’t helped in any of the other categories with a .190 average, .651 OPS and one (1) stolen base.

Goodman had a two-run homer in the second and a grand slam to break a 5-5 tie in the eighth. It was quite a game from someone who just spent half of August in the minors for no good reason and has often been overlooked while in the majors. It’s hard to say whether Goodman really has a chance of making it as a primary catcher, but his solid bat and versatility should make him a useful player for a long time. Since the Rockies have finally decided to give him a real shot, he might be a sneaky play during the final two weeks.

We wrote back when Goodman was sent down on August 18 that there was a good chance he’d return when rosters expanded. Rosters have expanded. Goodman is back. He’ll likely see time against left-handed pitching for the remainder of the year.

Goodman gets the boot from the active roster with Nolan Jones (back) reinstated off the injured list before Sunday’s game against the Padres. Goodman has a good chance to be back with Colorado when rosters expand in September.