The Colorado Rockies were already thin on firepower. Now, they’re about to be even more shorthanded before the All-Star break.
Christian Saez of TheDNVR.com reported Tuesday that catcher and 2025 breakout slugger Hunter Goodman is heading to the 10-day injured list after a lingering hamstring injury failed to improve over the past week.
Just ahead of a three-game home series against the Houston Astros, the Rockies will announce.
It’s a tough break for both Goodman and the Rockies. The 25-year-old has been one of the team’s most consistent offensive players in 2025, slashing .287/.332/.512 with 14 home runs, 48 RBI, and 34 extra-base hits over 310 plate appearances. That type of production is rare in Colorado’s current lineup — and losing it, even for 10 days, is a serious blow.
Goodman initially tweaked the hamstring during a game in mid-June and tried to work through the discomfort. But after sitting out the past week and still not showing enough improvement to return, the team decided it couldn’t afford to wait any longer. He’ll now get time to fully recover, but there’s no firm timetable yet for his return.
In his place, the Rockies are calling up veteran catcher Austin Nola from Triple-A Albuquerque. Nola brings experience behind the plate and a steady presence, but his bat isn’t nearly as impactful. He’ll split time with rookie Braxton Fulford, who’s still getting his footing at the major league level.
This move significantly alters the shape of Colorado’s lineup — and not in a good way. Goodman has been one of the few Rockies hitters capable of providing power and timely production, especially with Kris Bryant and Ezequiel Tovar both already sidelined. Without him, the pressure on players like Brenton Doyle, Elehuris Montero, and Michael Toglia increases dramatically.
The timing of Goodman’s injury couldn’t be worse. Colorado opens a tough series Tuesday against Houston, which currently leads the AL West at 50–34 and is 7–3 over its last 10 games. The Rockies, meanwhile, have dropped eight of their last ten and hold the worst record in baseball at 19–65. They’re 8–32 at home and have been outscored by 26 runs during that recent 2–8 stretch.
Tuesday’s pitching matchup features Colton Gordon (3–1, 3.98 ERA) on the mound for Houston, while the Rockies send out Chase Dollander (2–8, 6.06 ERA). The Astros are favored heavily (-173 on most books), and with Goodman now out, that gap could widen.
This also has implications beyond the short-term series. While the Rockies are far from playoff contention, individual development and performance matter in a rebuilding year. Goodman was quickly emerging as one of the few bright spots — a young player who looked like a potential long-term piece. Any time lost to injury now means fewer reps, fewer adjustments, and fewer chances to evaluate how real the breakout truly is.
Manager Bud Black and the Rockies coaching staff will hope Goodman’s absence is brief and that the injury doesn’t linger deeper into July. With the All-Star break just around the corner, it’s possible the team uses the next two weeks to reset his recovery timeline and bring him back fully healthy by late July or early August.
For now, though, the damage is done. The Rockies just lost their best hitter at a time when even small margins matter. Whether it’s the win column, the trade market, or long-term evaluation, Hunter Goodman’s injury casts a long shadow over an already difficult season in Denver.
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