In a season like the one the Colorado Rockies are having, it can be easy to dismiss every player on the team. It’s a fair assessment considering the poor performance on the roster, but it is also a generalization that causes the wider baseball landscape to overlook a quality player. A team like the Rockies is has been relegated to the courtesy representative over the last few seasons but in 2025, they have a legitimate candidate that deserves more attention and love than he will likely get otherwise at his position.

Hunter Goodman has easily been one of the more positive offensive notes for the Rockies this season. While the lineup has ebbed and flowed and ultimately underperformed by quite a wide margin, Goodman has remained relatively consistent. Entering the weekend, Goodman leads the Rockies in nearly every offensive category: batting average (.281), home runs (10), doubles (13, tied with Tyler Freeman), OPS (.819) and RBIs (36). In the Rockies’ most recent series sweep of the Miami Marlins, their first sweep in 57 series, Goodman powered the team, going 7-for-13 with three homers, two doubles, a triple and five RBIs.

Goodman’s future with the Rockies remained uncertain. After displaying raw power throughout the minors, the matter of what position he would play remained a mystery. Primarily a catcher, Goodman had to quickly learn the outfield and first base on the fly, trying to open up an opportunity to get his bat into the lineup. The carousel of positions ended up having a detrimental effect on him as his defensive skills lacked on the field and he struggled with some consistency at the plate. During a late-season call-up in September last season, Goodman spent more time behind the plate, where he began to see an uptick in his offense, and the club took notice.

During the offseason, the two parties got together and decided that Goodman would focus solely on catching for his position. The work paid off as Goodman delivered a solid performance in Spring Training and won the Opening Day start behind the dish over veteran receiver Jacob Stallings.

Goodman’s work behind the dish is an obvious work in progress still, but his hard work has continued to show as his game calling and blocking continues to improve. There are noticeable areas where he struggles, such as trying to cut down base stealers, but the work is adequate enough considering the bat he brings to the table.  He has cut down 16% of would-be base stealers, as teams continue to test his arm behind the plate.

We know the value he has brought to the Rockies this season, but where does he fit into the grand scheme of the rest of the league?

Entering the weekend, Goodman’s 63 hits led all major league catchers, while his homers, RBIs and 110 total bases led all National League catchers. He is second in the NL in batting average (.281), slugging (.491) and wRC+ (114) behind Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith and third in on-base percentage (.328) and fWAR (1.0).

While Smith is certainly deserving and the likely favorite to win the All-Star bid, fans should take time to give Goodman some serious consideration. It’s understandably reasonable for folks to look past the Rockies and claim they deserve no All-Star representative. However, Goodman is one the best players at his position this season in the NL and that deserves some recognition. His work behind the plate isn’t to the caliber of Smith, and he has split his time as the DH for the Rockies when not catching. Yet, his offensive breakout this season is a bright spot for the Rockies’ future, and even though he doesn’t have the luxury of a prestigious organization on his uniform, Goodman is outperforming the catchers in the NL at the plate, which is a defining trait when looking at All-Star stats.

When you cast your ballots over these next few weeks, give Goodman a good long look and decide that he is worthy of your vote. The spirit of the All-Star game is that the best players at each position at that point in the season are recognized and celebrated. Don’t just got for the name brand because that is your favorite player. There are always deserving players who are overlooked in favor of the popular player from the big market.

Yes, Goodman likely could be the Rockies’ default rep when July rolls around, but how much more meaningful could it be if fans took notice and voted him into the finals at catcher so that his hard work doesn’t go overlooked? The Rockies are absolutely terrible this season, but Goodman has carried the team on his back with some All-Star-level play, and he deserves your consideration.