Hunter Goodman -- Prospect Evaluation

Hunter Goodman, a University of Memphis product, was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round of 2021 and signed for a $600,000 bonus. The 22-year-old catcher displays considerable offensive promise, particularly in raw power, having hit .307/.401/.678 with 21 home runs in 56 games during his junior season at Memphis. Over three collegiate seasons (142 games), Goodman compiled a .323/.388/.623 slash line with 42 home runs and 74 extra-base hits. His professional debut came in the Arizona Complex League in August 2021, where he posted a .300/.419/.517 line across 60 plate appearances with a 145 wRC+ and a 12% walk rate against 19% strikeouts.

Despite being drafted as a catcher, Goodman faces questions about whether he can remain at the position long-term. Keith Law ranked him 17th in the system, noting he is "power over hit" with limited selectivity and considers him "a fringy receiver." FanGraphs slots him 25th systemwide with a 40 Future Value rating and a plus raw power grade. Multiple scouts view him as a potential first base or corner outfield prospect rather than a long-term catcher. Behind the plate in the ACL, Goodman threw out 6 of 11 attempted base stealers but recorded four passed balls and one error. His contract status includes three remaining options and he is not Rule 5 eligible. His MLB arrival is projected for 2024 or 2025, with a future value assessment as a power bat off the bench or backup catcher if defensive development doesn't materialize.

Hunter Goodman, a 22-year-old catcher prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization, has posted impressive numbers during the 2022 minor league season but remains underrecognized compared to other Rockies prospects like Michael Toglia and Ezequiel Tovar. Goodman had a strong three-year collegiate career at the University of Memphis, accumulating a .323 batting average with 42 home runs and 149 RBIs before being selected in the fourth round of the 2021 draft.

In his first true minor league season with Low-A Fresno in 2022, Goodman demonstrated exceptional power, hitting 22 home runs—the highest in the California League—while slashing .291/.368/.592 in 48 appearances at first base and 24 behind the plate. His performance led to a promotion to High-A Spokane in early July. Goodman has shown the raw power of a bat-first prospect with solid baserunning speed (four steals in Fresno), though his defensive work—particularly as a catcher—requires continued development. The article emphasizes that Goodman's rapid ascent through the minor league system and offensive production warrant greater recognition among Rockies prospect discussions.

Hunter Goodman, a 24-year-old right-handed corner outfielder/first baseman/DH/catcher, earned the No. 16 prospect ranking for the Colorado Rockies with 348 points across 22 ballots. The 2021 fourth-round draft pick was not initially expected to reach the majors in 2023 but forced the organization's hand through dominant minor league performance.

At Double-A Hartford in 2023, Goodman posted a .239/.325/.523 line with 25 homers and 24 doubles in 400 PA, demonstrating a 125 wRC+ while walking in 10% and striking out in 24.5% of plate appearances. He notably excelled against left-handed pitching with a 1.118 OPS. Promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque in early August, Goodman exploded over 67 PA with a .371/.418/.903 line (200 wRC+), adding 9 homers and 6 doubles, which prompted his late August MLB debut.

In 70 PA with the Rockies, Goodman struggled to immediate success, posting a .200/.247/.386 line with 1 homer and an 48 wRC+ rating, though he maintained a 31% strikeout rate in the majors. The Rockies utilized him primarily at first base and right field. Despite the initial MLB struggles, Goodman's raw power and rapid ascension—from draft to majors in two years—position him as a potential bench bat or second division regular with a 40+ future value outlook.

Hunter Goodman, a 23-year-old prospect, earned unanimous selection as the Colorado Rockies' #19 ranked prospect following an outstanding 2022 season. Playing first base, catcher, and DH across three minor league levels, Goodman demonstrated elite raw power with 36 home runs and 71 extra-base hits in 579 plate appearances, posting a combined .295/.354/.572 line with a 137 wRC+.

Goodman began 2022 at Low-A Fresno, where he hit .291/.368/.592 with 22 homers in 321 PA despite being nearly a year older than league average. A mid-season promotion to High-A Spokane yielded even better results: a .315/.351/.589 line with 12 home runs in 211 PA, including a dominant August hitting .370/.405/.769 with 10 home runs in 116 PA. He was promoted to Double-A Hartford in early September, where a 47 PA sample showed expected struggles (.227/.277/.364) against upper-level pitching.

Goodman's profile is defined by exceptional power production, particularly against left-handed pitching where he hit .352/.381/.762 with 12 HR in 113 PA. Though officially listed as a catcher, he appeared behind the plate in only 43 of 134 games in 2022, making 3 errors and 9 passed balls while throwing out 25% of would-be base stealers. The Rockies project Goodman as a power bat off the bench, with an MLB ETA of 2024 or 2025.

Hunter Goodman is a 5'11", 210-pound righthanded-hitting catcher/prospect for the Colorado Rockies with exceptional raw power. In his limited 2023 debut statistics, he posted a .240 average with 9 home runs across 121 at-bats, though his .521 slugging percentage reflects his power potential. His minor league performance at Memphis has been more impressive, with a .307/.401/.678 slash line and 21 home runs in 56 games.

Goodman's primary calling card is his plus-level raw power and athleticism, but significant concerns exist regarding his approach at the plate. Scouts note a high strikeout rate (around 21%) throughout his collegiate career, attributed to a noisy swing mechanics with excessive bat waggle during his load and a pronounced leg kick. Defensively behind the plate, his actions are described as clunky despite possessing natural arm strength and solid receiving fundamentals remain a question mark.

Given these defensive limitations and Goodman's athleticism, scouts believe he may fit better as a corner outfielder, where his above-average running ability (22-for-25 stolen base success rate) and arm strength could be better utilized. A team believing in his potential to develop as a catcher could pursue him early, but the consensus suggests his power bat plays best outside of the catching position. As of 2024, he remains ranked as Colorado's #13 prospect.