Hunter Goodman, Rockies eye first series win of season

Reuters

2 days ago

June 3 - Hunter Goodman has been a shining light in a dark season for the Colorado Rockies.
After the catcher socked two homers in Colorado's 6-4 road victory over the Miami Marlins on Monday, the Rockies will shoot for their first series win of the season on Tuesday.
On Sunday, the Rockies became the first team in modern major league history (since 1901) to lose 50 times before earning 10 wins. Defeat No. 50, against the New York Mets, was Colorado's eighth setback in a row. The Rockies ended the skid while finally getting win No. 10 in the opener of a three-game series at Miami.
If the Rockies win Tuesday or Wednesday to take the three-game set, they would end their season-opening run of losing 19 straight series -- a modern major league record. A victory on Tuesday would give Colorado its second two-game winning streak of the season, matching the results of April 30-May 1.
Despite the team's results, Goodman is having an impressive campaign. After going 3-for-5 with three RBIs on Monday, the 25-year-old is leading the team with a .273 batting average, nine home runs, 34 RBIs and 59 hits in 58 games. His 11 doubles are second on the team, and he has a .780 OPS, much better than his career .642 OPS entering 2025.
Goodman has taken over the catching job for Colorado after being used mostly as an outfielder and first baseman since being drafted in 2021. However, he has always wanted to be a catcher, so he pushed to get back behind the plate this spring.
He has started 32 games as a catcher this season and 23 as a designated hitter. Goodman has been the Rockies' cleanup hitter for 32 games.
"Catching is something you have to embrace because it is so tough, especially at this level, but that is what I want," Goodman said this spring, according to the Denver Post. "I think catching helps me at the plate, for sure. I think just the consistent at-bats and being able to relax a little more this year and feel more comfortable in the box has been big."
Unfortunately for Colorado, Goodman's breakout season has not added up to many wins. Even with the win on Monday, the Rockies are on pace for 135 losses this year. The Chicago White Sox set the modern day record with 121 losses last season after a 17-50 start -- significantly better than Colorado's current 10-50 start.
The Rockies had not officially named a starter for the Tuesday game as of late Tuesday night, but it might be right-hander Tanner Gordon (1-2, 4.24 ERA). The rookie has yet to oppose the Marlins.
Miami is scheduled to counter with right-hander Sandy Alcantara (2-7, 8.47 ERA). His last time out, Alcantara received a no-decision, a positive result considering he lost each of the prior seven starts. During the eight-game winless run, he has a 10.09 ERA, having walked 21 and struck out 28 in 35 2/3 innings.
Alcantara won the National League Cy Young Award in 2022 when he went 14-9 with a 2.28 ERA. However, he has struggled since, going 7-12 with a 4.14 ERA in 2023 and sitting out all of 2024 after Tommy John surgery.
The slow start to 2025 has not helped.
"It's tough. You've got to be strong," he said last week, according to The Athletic. "Watching people's comments, hearing people talk very bad about you. It's something that you have to not pay attention to. But I'm strong, man. I believe in myself."
Alcantara has started four games against the Rockies in his career, going 2-2 with a 5.11 ERA.
--Field Level Media