Sullivan brings a lot more than baseball to Rockies

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

DENVER -- Two introductions were made on a video recorded in the Rockies’ clubhouse and released by the social media team on July 4.

The footage announced that catcher Hunter Goodman had made his second straight All-Star Game. But let’s focus on the guy heralding Goodman, catcher Brett Sullivan.

A similar scene unfolds when the Rockies win. It’s usually Sullivan gathering the club and announcing not just the player of the game, but making sure winning plays that may or may not show in the box score are appreciated. In other moments, teammates, manager Warren Schaeffer and even president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta note that Sullivan’s behind-the-scenes personality is important, whether it’s providing information in good times, calm in bad ones and positive accountability if necessary.

But when Goodman missed two weeks with a left shoulder strain, Sullivan’s actions on the field spoke volumes.

Before Goodman returned to the lineup on Tuesday night, Sullivan reached base in 19 of his 25 starts since June 11, with a .277/.319/.590 slash line, six home runs, six doubles, a triple and 19 RBIs. When the Rockies went 5-4 on a road trip from Aug. 7-16, Sullivan batted .316 (6-for-19) with three homers and eight RBIs.

“It’s just the nature of the more at-bats you get on a back-to-back daily basis, the timing it shapes you,” Sullivan said. “You see the ball a little easier. I was just trying to fill in until Goody got back -- we missed him. But from a timing aspect, the more you see it, it’s a little easier.”

The backup catcher passing along years of knowledge is a cherished lore in baseball. Before this season, Sullivan’s Major League experience was 43 games over three seasons with the Padres (2023-24) and Pirates (‘25). But that didn’t begin to describe the baseball experience of Sullivan, an infielder who was a 17th-round selection of the Rays out of the University of the Pacific in the 2015 MLB Draft -- the year he was a roommate of Nationals manager Blake Butera in Rookie ball in a motel in Princeton, W.Va.

“In my experience, I’ve been up and down,” Sullivan said. “I’ve played four years in winter ball. I’ve played in every country but Venezuela -- major baseball countries, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Dominican Republic. I’ve gotten to be in a lot of locker rooms with a lot of great players, Hall of Famers, just watching how they go about it. I’ve taken bits and pieces of that and I’m trying to bring it to these guys.”

The little-reported transaction of Sullivan’s signing during the offseason caught the attention of outfielder Mickey Moniak. Turns out, they worked out at the same facility in San Diego while Moniak prepared for the 2016 Draft, when he went first overall to the Phillies out of La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, Calif.

“He could talk to a wall,” Moniak said, smiling. “Everybody who comes across Brett feels like he’s known them their whole lives. That’s probably the best way I can describe him. We hit it off immediately. I was at his wedding, have known his kids since they were born. It’s a friendship that’s going to last a lifetime.

“I remember testing Schaeff and [Rockies director of baseball operations] Amir [Mamdani], and a couple of guys saying that this guy’s a really good add for this clubhouse, really good for the organization. He brings a lot more to the table than just baseball.”

Now, Sullivan returns to the role of backup catcher. He can also play first base, albeit rarely, and -- as has been the case seven times -- he can pitch to save the bullpen in a blowout. But his play with Goodman out demonstrated value beyond the intangibles.

“He's very confident, does his homework, and he’s playing with a high level of confidence, which is irreplaceable,” Schaeffer said.

Schaeffer said the Rockies value Sullivan’s emotional consistency. Sullivan acknowledged that it’s not always easy to be the same every day, but it’s wholly necessary -- for him and his teammates.

“It comes back to being the same guy every day,” Sullivan said. “You’re not riding the wave, the highs and the lows -- being the guy who if you have two hits, you’re on the top step, but if you don’t have two hits, you’re in the corner. It’s embracing that role and wanting to be the best at that.”