Hunter Goodman is already back — can he make history?

The Colorado Rockies have won just two of their last 10 games, which directly coincides with Hunter Goodman’s departure from the lineup.

The All-Star catcher is back Tuesday, batting third and backstopping in Washington D.C. after spending the last week or so on the Injured List with a left shoulder strain.

Goodman is back active, catching for the debut of righty Mason Adams. Blake Adams, who was called up Monday, and third-string catcher Braxton Fulford were sent back to Albuquerque.

The two biggest questions remaining for the Rockies may have both been answered by Goodman’s IL trip. Can they avoid 100 losses and could Goodman make history? Now losers of seven straight games, Colorado is back on pace to lose 100 games. And Goodman’s chances of reaching Johnny Bench’s NL single-season record of 45 homers by a catcher now seem tough to reach.

But maybe the rest is what Goodman needed because his power had been sapped recently, with just three homers and four total extra-base hits over his last 17 games dating back to July 22. The 26-year-old first felt the shoulder issue on a swing during Colorado’s series in Arizona earlier this month, manager Warren Schaeffer said. Goodman gutted through the three-game set against the Diamondbacks — going 1-for-9 with a triple — before the injury caught up with him.

Still, Goodman has been one of baseball’s most productive hitters. In 111 games this season he is slashing .251/.320/.541 with 34 home runs, 69 RBIs and 69 runs scored — fifth in the majors in homers and first on the Rockies in OPS (.861). He already owns the franchise’s single-season home run record for a primary catcher, eclipsing his own mark with his 32nd and 33rd blasts in an Aug. 1 win over the Royals.

But 11 more to tie Bench with just 31 games left is a tall task — though achievable. He hit 15 home runs this season in a 31-game span from late May into early July.

The Rockies, with the worst record in MLB, are just three games back of fourth place in the NL West. Maybe a healthy Goodman can save them from triple-digit losses and last place all while making a bit of slugging history.

Related

Rockies’ freefall threatens to land them among baseball’s all-time worstRockies done in by disastrous inning as they drop seventh straightRockies to call up pitching prospect Mason Adams just weeks after deadline dealRockies lose ninth-straight at home, conclude 0-6 homestandLarry Walker statue unveiled at Coors FieldRockies fall to 0-5 in homestand, drop eighth-straight at Coors Field