Hunter Goodman Home Run Record: 25 Before the Break
Goodman became the 4th catcher ever to reach 25 home runs before the All-Star break — here’s what every youth catcher can copy from his swing.
- The first one went 428 feet to the third deck.
- The second went 428 feet to the bullpen beyond the fence in left-center.
- The third, off a high sinker on a full count in the seventh, went 401 feet.
Three home runs. Five RBIs. An 8-5 Rockies win over the Minnesota Twins.
On Saturday June 28th, 2026, Hunter Goodman became the fourth catcher to hit 25 home runs before the All-Star break. The others on that list:
- Cal Raleigh with 38 in 2025.
- Johnny Bench with 28 in 1970.
- Ivan Rodriguez with 26 in 2000.
- Hunter Goodman with 25 in 2026
- Maybe, possibly, unconfirmidly, Salvador Perez with about 24 in 2021.
“Those are some of the all-time greats,” Goodman said. “Any time you can be mentioned with them, it’s pretty surreal.”
Goodman stepped in against Twins starter Mike Paredes in the first inning and sent a solo shot to the third deck in left field — the kind of swing that makes an entire ballpark go quiet for a half-second before it erupts.
He did it again in the third. Same distance. Same arc. The ball settled in the bullpen in left-center.
After a ground out in the fifth, the 2025 NL All-Star and Silver Slugger winner came up in the seventh with two runners on and the Rockies leading 3-2. He worked reliever Kody Funderburk to a full count, then hammered the high sinker 401 feet into the seats to put the game away.
“When Goody gets hot, he stays hot for a while,” said Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer. “He’s a really tough guy to get out.”
It was the 21st three-homer game in Rockies franchise history. Goodman now leads all MLB catchers with 25 home runs in 2026.
The night before, he’d launched a 451-foot two-run shot in the ninth — the longest home run by any player in baseball that Friday, per Baseball Savant — but the Twins still won in extra innings. Goodman let it go.
What a catcher can learn from this
Power is rare at the catching position. Rare enough that only three people had ever done what Goodman did on Saturday — and they are on the Mount Rushmore of catching.
The reason is the job itself. A full-time catcher squats for nine innings, takes foul tips off the forearms and shins, blocks balls in the dirt, and calls the game while the infielders stretch between pitches. By the third inning, your legs have already done more work than most players do in a full game.
Hitting for power through that grind is more than just strength. It is the ability to stay explosive — to keep your hands quick and your swing short — through a season that is actively trying to wear you down.
Study Goodman’s swings from Saturday. He did not try to muscle pitches. Good pitch selection — he was ahead in the count on two of his three home runs. The third came on a full-count sinker. He waited. He stayed back. He let his hands work.
That is the definition of discipline, and it is teachable at every level. Short swings. Quick hands. Make the ball hit the bat.
The catchers who last — and hit — are the ones who stay mechanically sound when everyone else starts cutting corners because they are tired. Sweat the gear and never fear.
Try this at your next practice
- Short-path tee drill. Set a batting tee at your normal contact point. Choke up slightly and focus on driving the ball to the opposite-field gap using the shortest possible path from your hands to the ball. The goal isn’t distance — it’s hand speed and a flat barrel. This is the foundation of Goodman’s swing: efficient, not muscled.
- Count-specific pitch selection. Work with a coach or a partner who calls “ahead” (0-1, 0-2) or “behind” (2-0, 3-1) before each pitch in BP. In ahead counts, practice laying off pitches out of the zone and driving the pitch you’re looking for. In behind counts, put the ball in play to the middle of the field. Goodman’s three-HR game started with excellent count management.
- Leg-fatigued swing session. Do 20 squats, then step into the batter’s box and take 10 swings. The goal is to notice where your mechanics break down when you’re tired, and then fix them. Catchers who hit well deep in the season are the ones who’ve practiced staying disciplined when their legs are done. This drill teaches you where your weaknesses are.
Sources: Rockies’ Hunter Goodman smashes three home runs vs. Twins (Sentinel Colorado / AP, June 28 2026); Goodman Hits Three Homers for Rockies (Pitcher List, June 28 2026); Rockies’ Hunter Goodman Is Quietly Becoming the Most Dangerous Catcher in Baseball (Sports Illustrated).
