DENVER — To understand Hunter Goodman — the home-run hitting, trade-deadline surviving, Colorado Rockies All-Star — maybe start in Tennessee, where he grew up.Maybe start with the juggling club.Goodman developed into a dominant all-around athlete in Arlington, Tenn., located about 30 miles from Memphis. While baseball, football and basketball were staples of his calendar, he was also part of the Arlington Elementary School juggling team, which performed at Grizzlies and Memphis Tigers games and featured a lineup packed with future stars.“Yeah. Did a little bit of juggling,” said Goodman, whose juggling club teammates included Phillies reliever Jonathan Bowlan and Tyler Gentry, an outfielder in the minors. “Wasn’t the best, but I tried.”Maybe don’t start with the juggling club then. Maybe it is fine to start in the present, with Goodman draped in the purple faux fur coat, which the Rockies wear to celebrate home runs. This year, Goodman’s home run tally keeps climbing — 36 going into Thursday — even away from his hitter-friendly home ballpark. This year, too, he has weathered a gloomy trade deadline in Denver, leaving him as both part of Colorado’s present and future.A left shoulder strain put Goodman’s power surge on hold — first by affecting his swing, then prompting a trip to the injured list. Upon his return Tuesday, though, he made an immediate impact. Goodman homered at Nationals Park in Washington to keep his numbers climbing. Then, he did it again on Wednesday.
How Hunter Goodman, who can hit the ball ‘anywhere,’ is launching the Rockies into their next era
“Baseball is a game of failure, but he succeeded a lot,” Memphis associate head coach Russ McNickle said of Hunter Goodman.









