Getting to Know Astros/Hooks OF/DH Granden Goetzman

At first glance, Hooks OF/DH Granden Goetzman tends to intimidate given his massive (6'4" 265 lb.) heavily tattooed frame. But a warm, friendly, easygoing demeanor and a quick, genuine smile that lights up his face and puts a sparkle in his eye serve as assurances that you can't judge this tome by its cover.

Granden Goetzman - April 2019

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Goetzman has been around baseball for several years now, having been drafted out of his Florida high school by the Rays in 2011. He played in the Rays organization until he signed with the Cardinals for the 2018 season as a minor league free agent. After being released by the Cardinals in late June 2018, the Astros signed Goetzman in early July but he only appeared in two games for Tri-City at the very end of the season. It turns out that gap in his resume was by design.

During his time in the Cardinals organization, Goetzman played for the AA Springfield Cardinals, a Texas League competitor of the Hooks, where he drew the attention of Hooks Manager Omar Lopez and then-Hooks Hitting Coach (and current Astros MLB Hitting Coach) Troy Snitker. According to Lopez, Snitker had been keeping an eye on Goetzman and, after his release, recommended him to the Astros based on the data he had seen. It turns out that Goetzman's exit velocity was comparable to that of MLB sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge. But Goetzman's swing needed some work.

Goetzman signed with the Astros knowing that he wouldn't be playing right away. Although he was in uniform with the Hooks last season, he was never activated on the Hooks roster and he was in Corpus Christi for one reason only, to work with Snitker on re-tooling his swing. It was an unconventional approach. As Goetzman puts it, "I was 25 at the time. It was like, 25 years old, we're going to teach you how to swing the bat properly. I just took it one day at a time and tried to be a sponge."

Lopez praised Goetzman's work ethic and maturity during this process, from sitting on the sidelines as he learned from Snitker last season to putting in the work in the offseason to showing up at spring training ready to apply what he had learned. Lopez also noted that while Goetzman exhibits the maturity and professionalism of an older player, he also takes an almost childlike joy in playing the game.

So far, the work that Goetzman put in seems to be paying off. His seven home runs (four in the last six games) trail only top prospect Yordan Alvarez within the Astros system to this point in the season, and his on-base percentage is about 50 points higher than his career OBP as he is walking more and striking out less.

Goetzman sees the time spent with Snitker as a definite positive, "I'm a totally different guy. Totally different guy. I learned so much about the swing, what we're all trying to do, what we want to do, the successful guys in the big leagues, what they're doing. And I learned that I had no idea what I was doing. I had no idea. I was just up there swinging as hard as I could. And I'm still learning, of course, but I've got an understanding of what I want to do, what I need to do. The Astros organization has done a tremendous job with teaching me and I'm grateful for this opportunity."

Now that Goetzman is playing regularly, he's really enjoying himself, "It's fun. Now's the fun part because last year I wasn't playing. I did my work. I would just sit there and watch the game. Now I get to go out there and play. Of course still work on (the hitting), but now I get to go hit and play and enjoy the game that I love."

He particularly enjoys playing in Corpus Christi. Although he was born in Philadelphia, his family moved to Florida when he was very young and he loves being near the water. "I'm a Florida boy. I grew up in Florida, love the ocean. I love the ocean. That's why Corpus is kind of cool because you don't really think about the ocean really in Texas. And the wind (off the bay) always blows out to left which is nice for us righties," said Goetzman.

Even without the breeze off the bay, Goetzman hits the ball hard. The night prior to this interview, he blasted one to the berm in left despite not making solid contact. "I did not even come close to squaring that ball up. My hand is still hurting from it. I got jammed bad. I got just enough of it." Needless to say, he is very strong.

Goetzman Home Run - April 2019

Current Hooks Hitting Coach Tim LaMonte says that Goetzman is "driven to turn his natural ability into usable power on the field." But aside from the power that is the center of his game, Goetzman has enough speed and enough arm to play right field, the position he has played when not DH-ing. Knowing that his bat is the key to his future, he still works hard on the other aspects of his game and is always the first player out on the field preparing for the game. His goal in the field is "to make the plays and just be a great teammate."

As to what the future holds for him, Goetzman said, "I see all this potential, right? And my swing, it wasn't allowing it to surface so I went through this process and now, of course, I've got to continue to work and improve. I think it's all going to come down to my bat. I'll just take it one day at a time. And that's another thing. I just think about last year when I was with the Cardinals, this time last year. I had no idea that I was going to be released, that I was going to sign with the Astros, go through this process. And that's a fascinating thing to me because nobody knows where any of us will be in two months. Nobody knows what our stats are going to look like. Nobody knows if the top prospect is going to be in the big leagues or there's going to be a guy from the trenches that's a star. So I think that's a fascinating thing. And I would say, time will tell. We'll all see."

If that sounds philosophical, it may not come as a surprise that his go-to reading material of late has been philosophy. LaMonte admitted that he and Goetzman end up talking about books and life more than they do about hitting. In addition to fishing, being outside, lifting weights, spending time with his TV reporter/anchor girlfriend (who lives in Phoenix), Goetzman uses his spare time to improve, read and learn, something he is passionate about both on and off the field. And, oh yeah, he mentioned another thing he does in his spare time; he visits tattoo shops, a completely unsurprising revelation from someone who literally wears his story and his heart on his sleeve.

I rarely ask a player about his tats, but with Goetzman, it is apparent that his tattoos are very much a part of who he is, part history and part inspiration. Goetzman told me, "Growing up, I never even thought of getting all these tattoos. I never thought I'd have this many tattoos. Actually my first tattoo, MDG, that's my father. I think I was 21 when he passed away. And that's how it all started. I got that. Here it is. He was a boxer. He got his gloves hung up. And then I just kind of kept going. They all definitely mean something to me. Maybe I hear a conversation or maybe I see something and then I get it done." As to the reactions he may get, Goetzman said, "Everybody has an opinion, of course. Some people like tattoos, some people don't. But I think when people get to know me and talk to me, it's a totally different perception."

Goetzman's tribute to his father

The perception of Goetzman by fans, teammates, coaches and this blogger is universally positive. Though it may be somewhat cliché, LaMonte called Goetzman a "Gentle Giant." But that sobriquet is extremely fitting. There is a sense of kindness apparent in his ability to connect with people on a personal level and in a sense of humor that includes rather than excludes, both rare traits in this day and age.

Some final words from Goetzman, "I'm just trying to embrace my story. I think we all have a story. We all have a story. Every guy in the big leagues, every guy on the Astros has their own story. And I think when you truly embrace yours, that's when things start to go the right way for you."

Part of what I try to do on this blog is to help the fans get a sense of who a player is and to tell that player's story. Some are more compelling than others and this has been one of my favorites. Goetzman's unconventional journey and multi-dimensional, non-stereotypical nature are unique. As he said, nobody knows how the story will turn out, but he will have a lot of people rooting for a happy ending.

Thank you for your time, Granden, and the best of luck as your story unfolds.

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