DENVER -- The Rockies placed catcher Hunter Goodman on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday (retroactive to Saturday) to allow a strain to his left shoulder -- a key driver for the two-time All-Star’s power stroke -- healing time.
“I thought I had a chance to get some work done and get back out there, but just didn't feel 100% comfortable with it -- with the swing,” Goodman said prior to the Rockies' 7-6 loss to the Dodgers.
Goodman, whose 34 home runs ranked fifth in the Majors going into Tuesday, sustained the injury on a swing Aug. 12 at Arizona and missed the last four games. The club had been going with Brett Sullivan at catcher, with no healthy backup.
“We just can’t wait any longer, especially at that position,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “If Sully goes down, you put a half-injured Goody back there. It’s not good for him and not good for us.”
Goodman being unavailable forced the Rockies’ hand during the 11-5 loss to the Dodgers at Coors Field on Monday night. Often when games are out of hand, Sullivan pitches to save the bullpen. But Schaeffer said moving Sullivan to the mound and inserting Goodman at catcher amounted to managerial “malpractice.” Another position player, Troy Johnston, pitched the ninth in a moment of levity on an otherwise dour night for the Rockies.
Sullivan has been productive lately. He hit .316 (6-for-19) with three home runs and eight RBIs as the Rockies went 5-4 during their longest road trip of the season, and went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI against the Dodgers on Monday.
To replace Goodman on the active roster, the club recalled catcher Braxton Fulford from Triple-A Albuquerque, and started him on Tuesday night against the Dodgers to give Sullivan rest.
Goodman, 26, is a key run producer for the club. Beginning play Tuesday, his .541 slugging percentage ranked fifth in the Majors, and his .861 OPS topped all Rockies qualified players.