Hunter Goodman on All-Star Game pace as Rockies enter Cubs series at Wrigley
CHICAGO — During batting practice before Monday’s series opener against the Cubs, Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman showed off his signature strength by crushing a ball over the left-field bleachers at Wrigley Field and onto Waveland Avenue.
It was part of the show that Goodman often has put on this season. He entered Monday’s game with 20 home runs, the second-highest total in the National League behind Kyle Schwarber’s 24. That 20-homer milestone is a special one for the 26-year-old catcher. Reaching it in his 72nd game of the season, Goodman became the quickest Rockies player to notch 20 home runs since Nolan Arenado in 2016.
Goodman’s 20 home runs are also the most by a National League catcher prior to the All-Star break since Atlanta’s Javy Lopez hit 23 home runs in 2003.

Further, among all primary catchers (playing 50% of games at catcher), Goodman ranks first in home runs, second in extra-base hits (first in the NL), second in total bases (first in the NL) and third in hits (second in the NL).
However, when it comes to the power and the other impressive stats, there’s a disconnect between what Goodman’s performance this season and fans’ impressions of his play.
When the first MLB All-Star Game balloting totals came out on Monday, Goodman was fifth among NL catchers in votes with 110,450. The four catchers ahead of him had 300,000 or more votes, showing a wide disparity in fan voting with Goodman and his colleagues at the position.
With his numbers, Goodman is lining up to be Colorado’s representative at the All-Star Game for the second straight season and once again could be sent to the Midsummer Classic by his peers. However, his selection, no matter how it comes, may stir the pot with managers who think their candidate is just as worthy behind the plate.
That includes Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy, who took some time during the Brewers’ recent visit to Denver to stump for his catcher, William Contreras, who currently sits fourth in the voting totals.
“It’s important that everybody just looks at the numbers and whatever else, but for William Contreras, you’re talking about a guy that is catching a rookie staff, calling every pitch, catching virtually nine out of 10 games, and he’s taking this rookie staff and guiding them through into (what is) a winning ball club,” Murphy said.
“I don’t know how good we are, but we’re a damn winning ball club. Although we’re not surprising anybody with our early season success, it is kind of unbelievable that every year nobody thinks we’re going to be that good, and then we’re always a little better, and William’s a huge part of it.”

Last year, Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers started the All-Star Game at catcher for the National League with Goodman serving as the backup. The designated hitters for the NL were Shohei Ohtani and Schwarber.
This year, Smith is second in fan voting at the position behind Atlanta’s Drake Baldwin, who was activated on Monday after missing almost a month with a strained right oblique muscle. Meanwhile, Ohtani and Schwarber are once again having incredible years at the designated hitter spot.
If Goodman gets back to the All-Star Game, it will likely come at catcher, and Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said he’s deserving of that honor.
“His defense has been, I think, very good this year. With the ABS system, he’s been one of the best at that. He’s such a force at the plate that (he) can change a game in a heartbeat,” Schaeffer said.
“He’s the hardest worker in the game on the field. Behind closed doors, he gets after it. He’s catching almost every day in an environment that is very difficult. He never wants to sit. I have to take it out of his hands. I don’t know what else you want me to tell you. The guy’s unbelievable.”
Those are the things that make Goodman a leader in the clubhouse as well as Colorado’s most likely player destined for this year’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
With his numbers and intangibles, Goodman is once again worthy of a spot on the National League squad. However, expect the NL catcher spot to be one of the most debated selections when the final announcement is made in early July.
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National League catchers after first round of All-Star Game fan voting:
Drake Baldwin, Atlanta — 972,813 votes
Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers — 662,883 votes
J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia — 446,915 votes
William Contreras, Milwaukee — 303,240 votes
Hunter Goodman, Colorado — 110,450 votes




