Hunter Goodman is heading back to the All-Star Game, and the Rockies catcher will be packing plenty of power when he arrives in Philadelphia for the Midsummer Classic on July 14.

Heading into Saturday’s action, Goodman was tied for second among all MLB players with 27 home runs. Those 27 home runs are also tied with Larry Walker (2001) for the most by a Rockies hitter prior to the All-Star break in franchise history. 

“It’s super cool. You look up and into right-center and see their (Walker and Todd Helton) numbers in the Hall of Fame, so any time you’re mentioned with that caliber of a player, it’s pretty cool,” Goodman said.

Goodman will head into the All-Star Game on a power trip. His 13 home runs in June were the most of any MLB player and the second player in Colorado history to have at least 13 home runs in a single month (joining Troy Tulowitzki, who hit 15 home runs in September 2010). 

It’s the second consecutive trip to the All-Star Game for the 26-year-old Goodman, and he is one of two Rockies catchers in franchise history to be named to the NL team (along with Elias Díaz in 2023). He’s also the first Colorado player to make back-to-back All-Star Game rosters since 2019 when Nolan Arenado (2015-19), Charlie Blackmon (2017-19) and Trevor Story (2018-19) all appeared in consecutive games.

Goodman will not draw the start at catcher in the All-Star Game. Atlanta’s Drake Baldwin won the fan vote for that honor.

While Goodman may come off the bench, there’s little question that he is putting together numbers that are worthy of another All-Star Game appearance. His 11.59 at-bats per home run is the second-best in the majors among qualified hitters behind Kyle Schwarber’s 12.53. Goodman is also just behind Todd Helton’s 12.12 pace in 2001 for the best AB/HR ratio before the All-Star break by a Colorado player.

Goodman has certainly proven that he is not a Coors Field creation, flexing extreme power on the road. This season, 18 of his 27 long balls have been on the road, the most road homers pre-All-Star Game in franchise history. He entered Saturday tied for the ninth-most road home runs by a Rockie in a season, one shy of tying Vinny Castilla (19 home runs in 1997) for eighth.

Those road homers also put Goodman in some elite MLB company. He is one of two catchers since the All-Star Game began in 1933 to homer at least 18 times on the road before the break, joining Cal Raleigh who hit 21 for Seattle last season.

There is plenty to talk about with Goodman behind the plate, but Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer is quick to point out how the catcher has improved his defense heading into this season as well.

“He is the defensive backstop. I have played with a lot of very good catchers, but he is up there on my list because of what he can do behind the dish,” Schaeffer said. “Not only can he do it on offense but the way he controls pitchers, the way he control the zone, the way he challenges, I think it’s unbelievable.

“All of that underlying stuff are some of the reasons why he should be an All-Star and why he should be in Philly.”

Goodman has also been a weapon for the Rockies with the introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System this season. He has won 45 of his 69 ABS challenges as a catcher, tied the fifth most in MLB. Additionally, his 15+K flips (challenging a call that results in the batter striking out) are the third most among catchers.