Stories From The Soddies: Zach Goodman

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Almost every sports fan has spent their entire life as a fan, but very few have been as immersed as Zach Goodman.

Shortly after Zach's birth, before he could even speak, his father Drew was named the play-by-play voice for the Colorado Rockies. From that moment onward, his fate was sealed in baseball.

Except for Zach, it's not just baseball — it's life. He described his love for the game as "almost like religion." Whether he was on the field playing, or in the booth at Coors Field with his dad, he grew up at the ballpark. At every step in his life, from childhood to college, there has been one constant thread: baseball.

Now, for the first time in his life, he's stepping off of the diamond and, following in dad's footsteps, into the booth.

There have been a lot of firsts lately for Zach. Not only is he stepping off the field for the first time, it's his first season in Amarillo, his first time calling professional baseball, and his first time moving to a new place without knowing anyone. While some may understandably struggle with so much change, Zach has taken it in stride.

I hadn't had the chance yet to welcome Zach to Amarillo, and I knew I would be interviewing him for a story soon. A few days before the interview, I shot him a text, asking if I could swing by the booth for a bit during the game to film him. He was as kind in his response as he was fantastic calling the game. Alongside Stefan Caray (who carries a similar family legacy over the airways), Zach welcomed me into their workspace. It was clear from the second I walked in: he was a natural.

Fast-forward a few days, and we're back in the booth, a few hours before the game this time. While I set up the equipment for the interview, Zach told me about his first few weeks in Amarillo. We talked about the town, his playing career, and more.

Like any former athlete, he said there were times when he wished he were the one competing, but one simple fact remained: it didn't matter whether he was on the field or in the booth, he just knew he wanted to be around the game.

After our interview, the game began. Now, the booth at HODGETOWN isn't exactly built to film the broadcasters. During every game, they look out an open window, with the windowsill serving as the opposite border of their desk. As the game went on, I stood behind, to the right and to the left of him, but I couldn't find the perfect angle.

I had a tiny camera the size of a television remote that would stand up and automatically focus on whatever face is in frame. In between innings, I asked if I could squeeze my little camera in between the wires and broadcasting equipment for an inning. True to form, Zach didn't think twice about allowing me.

Unfortunately, despite finding the perfect shot, it wasn't a very exciting inning, and I didn't know if I would use any of the footage. I thanked Zach for letting me hang around him for a while, and then told him I'd get out of his hair.

As it turned out, one slow inning wasn't an indicator of what was to come. We left the bottom of the ninth inning with a tie ball game, heading to extra innings. I ran back up to the booth, asked if I could set my little camera back down, and waited. It was a Sod Poodles walkoff win — the first of Zach's professional broadcasting career.

They say your pupils dilate when you look at something you love. I'm no scientist, but I knew the look in Zach's eyes: it was love. Walkoffs are one of the most magical plays in all of sports. When Zach had the chance to call the first of his professional career, he wasn't Zach Goodman, the broadcaster anymore. He wasn't Zach Goodman, the baseball player. He wasn't Zach Goodman, the son of Colorado Rockies play-by-play announcer Drew Goodman.

He was simply Zach Goodman, a man excitedly in love the sport of baseball, in the most magical moment of his young career.

NewsChannel 10: Just to start off, sort of, explain to me your history with baseball, your history with broadcasting, and what brought you to this job, and what brought you to Amarillo in particular.

Zach Goodman: Oh, well, my history with baseball and broadcasting coincide a bit together. My dad did the play-by-play, he still does, for the Colorado Rockies. So, growing up as a kid, he took over that job in 2001. I was born in 2000. It's been my entire life. So growing up around the baseball field and in the Major Leagues, it really captivates you. The scale of everything, and just the beauty of baseball. I think it has that beauty to it. It's a different type of thing. It's almost like religion, so I was always captivated by it. I loved playing as a kid. My dad pressed that on me, and I loved playing. I played throughout my childhood, played through high school, and then played six years of college baseball at Webster University. I took advantage of a couple years of COVID baseball, obviously not a good thing, but in terms of my baseball career, it extended it, so I was fortunate with that. I just got done at the start of May and packed up my bags, and was here about three days after my career ended. So, getting the job here, my dad had a relationship with Chip Caray, who does the Cardinals and used to do the Braves. It's kind of set me up with Stefan and Chris. I just had a phone call with them in December. I was expecting just about 15 minutes to go over [how] I wanted to get into Minor League Baseball, and the steps that they took to get here. Just small advice, I wasn't expecting much. They ended up talking to me on the phone for, like an hour, hour and a half. They're just tremendous people. So, when Chris got the gig in Oakland, I had a relationship with Stefan a bit. I reached out and was like, "Hey, Stefan, what are, you know, what are your plans with the #2 spot, with you and in Amarillo?" and he liked the idea. He liked my tape and thought it was a good idea. We pitched it to Tony, the president here, and Cory Hilborne, the director of media relations and president of baseball ops. He liked the idea as well. It all just ended up working out coinciding, and here I am in Amarillo.

NC10: And here you are. So, when it comes to [going from] playing to being in the booth, obviously it's a little bit different. Is this something that you wanted to do, that you knew you wanted to do for a while? Is this something that you planned to do for a while?

ZG: Yeah. Ever since I was a kid, I knew that I wanted to be a broadcaster. Of course, my main goal was to be a professional baseball player, I think, as a lot of kids and a lot of players growing up will be, but this was always kind of 1B... and it's, it's a heck of a 1B. Obviously, I always knew that it was a long shot to play professional baseball, so I was realistic. I had this plan, and when I realized that baseball wasn't going to work out in that sense, I really, really put a lot of focus into this. I broadcasted games throughout high school, and I did the first game of Webster's, the Gorlok Sports Network. My freshman year's when we started doing all those games. I've done, basically, all the basketball and volleyball games over the last six years there. Didn't really do a ton of baseball, because I was playing in those games, so, it was really tough during that season. But, I've done a lot of high school football around the area and different college basketball and volleyball around the St. Louis area. That's where Webster University was, in St. Louis. That's where I got my start with all of that, and it brought me here. I always knew that I wanted to do this. I had a passion for it and I've always been confident public speaking and, just, you emulate your father. You want to be like your dad. So, I think that played a large role in it.

NC10: It sounds like throughout your life, that baseball has been very close to the top of priorities, as far as things that are just things you do in your life, you know? I mean, a lot of people will say, "It's faith, family, and then football." That's what a lot of people will say around here. But for you, it sounds like baseball has just, you know, been your life. Would you agree?

ZG: 100%. My family goes first, and my faith as well, but, baseball is certainly right there. It's really, genuinely been... as I look out onto the field right now... it's been a large driving force in practically everything I've done. It's where I've made most of my friends growing up, and then throughout college. I had over 100 teammates in college. I loved doing it in high school. That's [where] the majority of my friends are from, most of the relationships I have. I love this game. I love showing up to the ballpark every day, and I did, as well, when I was playing. Some guys really didn't like long practices, and sometimes it is hard, but I always enjoyed being at the field. Especially my senior year, I really took the time every day to really appreciate just being able to play baseball. That's one of the hardest things. I love broadcasting the sport. I love following the team day-by-day. The grind of a long season and the little intricate things that... because baseball is such a tough sport. But even now, down there, I look out... and I'm like, "man, I want to be throwing the ball a little bit, too." It's definitely hard in that aspect, but I love being around it, and these guys are so talented. It's so much fun to watch. I've really enjoyed it, so far, and baseball, certainly, has probably been the main driving factor in most of my life.

NC10: Think back to your entire life as a player. 23, 24 years, I don't how old you are, but, think back to your entire life. What does it look like if baseball doesn't exist?

ZG: Oh, boy. Over the last 24 years, man... I'd probably be playing a different sport. I do love all sports. I want to call a bunch of different sports. I'm a huge hockey fan, I played football and basketball growing up, but baseball's always been #1. So man, honestly, I'd probably be playing hockey. I've always loved hockey, but, man, my life would look a heck of a lot different. There'd be so many different aspects to it. Most of my friends, I probably wouldn't have met. I don't know if I'd be in this booth today. I certainly, probably, wouldn't, if baseball didn't exist. It's certainly been a driving sport in everything I've done.

NC10: I want to talk a little bit about Amarillo, and about the Sod Poodles. Obviously, you haven't been here that long, but in terms of getting acclimated to the city, getting adjusted, and then also, getting to know the people around here and getting to know the organization, what do you think has been the best thing about your tenure, as short as it's been for now, with the Sod Poodles?

ZG: I think anybody who's from Amarillo and who has been to Amarillo would agree that the staple of this city is how kind people are. I mean, it's been incredible, since coming here. Everybody's offering to take me out to lunch, on their boats, just telling me anything that I need. [They're] just being kind and genuine. It's been really cool, and that's not just at the ballpark. That's everywhere you go. I think that's been the main thing that I found so special about this city. But then, you come to HODGETOWN. This ballpark's beautiful. Obviously, it's really new. There's a great culture when it comes to the Sod Poodles. The fans here support them immensely. They're here all the time We're selling out the stadium, even on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In baseball, that's not typically days that there's a ton of people at games. These seats are filled, and it's a lot of fun. I think the players know that, and I think that's why it's such a fun place to play. I mean, I couldn't have asked for a better place to start my professional broadcasting career. It's been super special, and especially the people in this organization. Tony, Cory, Stefan, Anna, it's just been so special. They've been so good to me, made this transition so much easier on me. This is the first time I've ever moved somewhere on my own, where I didn't know anybody. I knew Stefan over the phone, but that's about it. They've helped with that transition a ton, and it's just been a special place so far.

NC10: Obviously, you haven't been here a very long time, like I mentioned. But, that being said, you've been on a couple road series, [where you] kind of get to see what the fans are like at other stadiums. You've seen what the fans are like here, you've seen what the environment's like here. Also, having played throughout high school, college, and being around the Rockies with your dad and everything, you've been around, I would imagine, a ton of baseball stadiums, a ton of baseball organizations, and markets and fan bases. How does Amarillo compare to the rest that you've seen?

ZG: Obviously, it's not a big league market, so it's a little bit different. But, in terms of the Minor Leagues, I think this is one of the most special places to play. Amarillo is not a small city by any standards, 200,000 people, and this is their sports team, and they really take homage with it. They really identify with the Sod Poodles. They show out, and it's really special. I think that this is one of the most unique places to play. I think there's a reason that players enjoy being here so much, and look back fondly on their times as a Sod Poodle. They've produced so many big leaders, already, in just this short time. A lot of special players, when [the team] was back with the Padres. Obviously, Fernando Tatis coming through here, and then now with the Diamondbacks. The amount of guys that were playing at the biggest stage in the world last year in the World Series against the Rangers. Those were guys that were here in Amarillo just a couple years ago, and some last year. It's incredible, and it's been a ton of fun. I think that that's the reason that people really love the Sod Poodles. It's a big city, Amarillo, in terms of a Minor League location, and this is the sports team that they identify with. This is their sports team and they really take that to heart.