Monday, July 13 will bring the Home Run Derby to Philadelphia, and the event is supposed to showcase the biggest power bats in the game. That’s why Hunter Goodman’s situation stands out so sharply: the Rockies slugger says he still hasn’t heard from anyone, even though he’s second only to Kyle Schwarber in National League home runs this season.
Goodman addressed the lack of contact in an interview with FoulTerritory, saying he has tried to let others handle the push without turning it into a public plea.
"I’ve had some Rockies people trying to help me out and get me in," stated Goodman. " I’ve talked to my agent a little bit; they said they’ve talked to some people, but me personally, I don’t want to beg for it.
I’m not going to beg to try and do it. I feel like I’ve done enough to where I should get invited.”
The numbers make the omission even harder to explain. The Rockies have put together the top all-around offense in baseball over the last month, and Goodman has been a big part of that surge, hitting nine home runs in that same 30-day stretch. On the season, he has 27 homers.
The Derby itself will feature four players from each league bracketed together, with hitters trying to rack up as many home runs as possible in a set time period before repeating the process until a winner is crowned. Five players have already accepted invitations, leaving two spots still open.
That’s why Goodman still has a path in, but the question is why he wasn’t already in the mix. Based on the production in front of him, he should have been one of the first names called.
The source material also points out that Goodman is outpacing the other National League contestants mentioned, while Bryce Harper and Matt Olson are not close to his home run total. Harper is said to sit just inside the NL’s top 10 in homers this season, and if a Phillies player were going to be included, the case would be for Schwarber.
Of course, not every player wants to take part. Yordan Alvarez is skipping the Derby this year by choice, and that distinction matters here: Goodman hasn’t even had the chance to turn it down. Instead, he’s waiting while less productive seasons are getting the nod.
In Other News...
Rockies Bring Back John Brebbia As Bullpen Questions Keep Growing
With the Rockies bullpen questions still piling up, the club has brought John Brebbia back into the organization on a minor league deal and sent him to Triple-A Albuquerque. It is another familiar stop for the veteran right-hander, who has already spent much of the season shuttling between Triple-A affiliates while trying to work his way back into the picture.
Brebbia had elected free agency after being outrighted off Colorados roster, and his brief big league look this year included three appearances for the Rockies. For now, the assignment gives Colorado another experienced arm to keep tabs on, even if the path back to Denver will depend on whether he can sharpen things in Albuquerque. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Offense Is Finally Giving Fans A Reason To Believe
The offensive uptick has given Colorado something it has lacked for much of the season: a stretch that actually looks sustainable enough to watch. Over the last month, the Rockies have gone 5-3 while putting up six or more runs in five games, a run that has included a couple of outbursts that reminded everyone what this lineup can look like when its working.
Hunter Goodman has been at the center of it, with nine homers and 18 RBIs over his last 25 games, and rookie Cole Carrigg has added a jolt of his own since debuting on June 9. Even with that progress, the bigger picture still hangs over the clubhouse, because the Rockies have not gotten to 40 wins yet and the question now is whether this surge can become more than a welcome midseason blip. [Read more 🡒]