The Colorado Rockies have dubbed 2026 the year they start the climb. After three consecutive 100-loss seasons, they have made foundational changes and are embracing a new way of thinking.

But in order to get the ballclub at the big-league level truly headed in the right direction, they are going to need a lot more players like Hunter Goodman.

Goodman represents the best kind of hope for a team searching for some. He wasn’t a high draft pick. He was taken in the fourth round. And he wasn’t a surefire prospect, never cracking the MLB Pipeline Top 100. It wasn’t even clear what position he was going to play by the time he reached the Bigs. He profiled as a below average corner guy. While his bat was sensational in the minors, it didn’t come with him right away.

Over his first two seasons at the MLB level, totaling 93 games, Goodman hit .192, had a .642 OPS and has “amassed” a negative 2.5 bWAR. Going into 2025, the Rockies decided to put the catcher’s gear back on him and see what happened. What happened is that he quickly became one of the most reliable and productive offensive catchers in baseball. This year, he is trending up defensively as well.

Two years ago, it was unclear whether or not Hunter Goodman would be able to stick at the MLB level. Now, it is completely fair to ask whether or not the Colorado Rockies should be building their entire team around him for years to come. A few more stories like that could go a long way toward the climb to relevance.

I recently sat down with Hunter Goodman to subject him to our 2026 player survey.

Here is what he had to say:

What’s the most important part of your game day prep?

HG: Ohh I’d say probably for me is the catcher. It’s probably a lot of video stuff like the mental prep.

What is your ideal road trip off day?

HG: I’d say golf and then a nice dinner afterwards. Golf that morning and then go somewhere to eat.

DC: You got some favorite spots? 

HG: I mean, this last trip in Pittsburgh, we played Oakmont and that was awesome.

What is your favorite play that you’ve ever made?

HG: I’d say in 24, I hit a go ahead Grand Slam in the eighth here against the Cubs, and I thought that was pretty sick. I think it was my first career Grand Slam too. So that was pretty cool.

DC: In the bigs right?

HG: Yeah

DC: I was gonna say you probably had a couple in the minors, right?

HG: Yeah, yeah.

What is your favorite play that you’ve ever seen? You have to have been in the park.

HG: Doyle’s diving catch against Shohei, I think it was? He made a diving catch here in the gap. That was his full body in the Superman. It was awesome.

DC: That’s gotta be awesome for you. You gotta have a wild vantage point. You’re watching that from straight on.

HG: Yeah, it’s pretty sweet. It’s pretty amazing.

DC: Also the throws he’s made, like to the plate and stuff, you’ve got the best view for that, right?

HG: Absolutely.

Do you have a favorite baseball quote? Can be a coach or a teammate or from a movie.

HG: I really don’t from any like movie or anything like.

DC: Coach or parent?

HG: Yes. They tell me it’s just control what I can control. And I feel like that’s a pretty easy thing to remember and kind of tell yourself as you’re going through stuff.