Goodman reaches 40-HR milestone, and Rockies want more

CHICAGO -- In the third inning Saturday night, Hunter Goodman gave a thumbs-up while proudly presenting in the Rockies’ preposterous -- yet pleasing -- purple pretend pelt that serves as a prize for a home run. Levity washed over him as he finally reached 40 for the year.

“I've been thinking about it. Since you hit 39, you’re thinking about 40,” said Goodman, who added his 41st, a three-run shot in the seventh inning of a 9-6 victory over the White Sox at Rate Field. “It was pretty awesome to be able to do it.”

The homers increased Goodman’s road total to 25, a record for a National League primary catcher, surpassing Hall of Famer Johnny Bench’s 24 for the Reds in 1972.

“I didn’t know about it before the game,” said Goodman, who has never met Bench but would love the opportunity. “When you get mentioned with guys like that that were so great in the past, it’s a pretty cool moment.”

Goodman’s homer total is the highest for an NL catcher since the Braves’ Javier López knocked 43 in 2003, and the most for a Rockies player since Nolan Arenado parked 41 in '19.

When done trotting the bases after the second homer, Goodman slipped into the fashion statement once again, then circled his right index finger in the air. Officially, that’s the signal for a homer. But it was also a message to keep the party going.

From multiple conversations with club personnel, the Rockies agree.

Of the nine Colorado players with at least 40 homers in the season, four have done it multiple times: Arenado (four), Vinny Castilla (three), Hall of Famer Todd Helton (two) and Andres Galarraga (two).

Indications are that the Rockies will continue to resist trade inquiries, after spurning them near the August Trade Deadline, meaning Goodman will have an opportunity to join the multi-time 40-homer list.

Saturday’s victory was just Colorado's eighth in its last 37 games -- a run that doomed the Rockies (58-103) to their fourth consecutive season with 100-plus losses. Indications from conversations with club officials suggest the front office expects to be aggressive when trades and signings can be made after the World Series.

Goodman has value. He will turn a still-young 27 on Oct. 8, he will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason and he’s not due for free agency until 2030. However, factors point toward the Rockies keeping Goodman:

• Star pitchers in their prime rarely choose the Rockies. Goodman will be counted upon as a leader with knowledge of Coors Field for inexperienced pitchers who will be a significant part of the staff.

• The offense -- even with the team’s weak finish -- is dramatically better than last year’s 43-119 club (which saw Goodman hit 31 homers). But losing his power bat at a position that often doesn’t produce such would be considered a step backward.

• Even with a planned aggressive strategy, there is no indication the Rockies believe they are close enough to contention to risk dealing Goodman.

Goodman looks forward to fence-busting at Coors and other venues for more-successful Rockies teams.

“You look at a lot of guys in here,” Goodman said. “[Veteran outfielder] Mickey Moniak, they just signed him for two more years. We all want to turn this place around. Rockies fans have been amazing to us, still continuing to show up and fill seats even when we’re not having good seasons. I want to see that place when we are having good seasons, to see how much more support people give us.”

Saturday was another example of the two-way energy the Rockies count as a building block.

In his second start since missing four months with a left elbow sprain, Jose Quintana threw 59 pitches over three innings and yielded solo shots to ex-Rockie Brenton Doyle and Luisangel Acuña, but nothing further. Ryan Feltner had a fourth solid outing as a “piggyback,” with one unearned run in 3 2/3 innings, and lefty Brennan Bernardino forced a double play from Colson Montgomery to end the eighth.

Goodman let a third strike get away in the ninth to make matters tougher on Jordan Romano, who allowed Andrew Benintendi’s three-run shot with no outs but worked through the jam.

“That’s a lot on your plate, especially as a catcher that has to play every day at Coors Field,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “It’s a very demanding position, and it’s leveled up in Coors Field with how demanding it is on your body. For [Goodman] to hit 41, be an All-Star ... and he’s the best guy with the ABS all year. He’s led the pitchers. They love throwing to him.”