Brian Goodwin (baseball)

Brian Christopher Goodwin (born November 2, 1990) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox. Before his professional career, Goodwin played college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Brian Goodwin
Goodwin with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: (1990-11-02) November 2, 1990 (age 34)
Rocky Mount, North Carolina, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: August 6, 2016, for the Washington Nationals
CPBL: August 20, 2022, for the Wei Chuan Dragons
MLB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Batting average.244
Home runs50
Runs batted in158
CPBL statistics
(through 2022 season)
Batting average.245
Home runs0
Runs batted in11
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Amateur career

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Born and raised in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Goodwin attended Rocky Mount High School where he was a three-sport athlete in baseball, football, and basketball. Goodwin was named Gatorade North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year during his senior season, and also received All-Conference honors in football as a cornerback and kick returner.

Goodwin attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he hit .291, tied the school record for triples in a single season, led the team in RBIs, and was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. However, Goodwin transferred to Miami-Dade College, due to issues with his grades. As a sophomore at Miami-Dade, Goodwin hit .382 with a .500 on-base percentage.[citation needed] In 2010, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[1] Goodwin committed to play baseball at the University of South Carolina following the 2011 season.[2]

Professional career

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Washington Nationals

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Goodwin was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 17th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft out of Rocky Mount High School in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He did not sign and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was then drafted by the Washington Nationals in the first round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.[3] Goodwin joined the Auburn Doubledays along with other draft picks for the 2011 season, but was not added to the active roster.

Prior to the 2012 season, Baseball America ranked Goodwin as the Nationals fifth best prospect.[4] Goodwin made his debut that year for the Class-A Hagerstown Suns. He was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg Senators after hitting .324/.438/.542 with nine home runs and 38 runs batted in.[5] At Harrisburg he hit .223/.306/.373 with five home runs. After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League and was the MVP of the Rising Stars Game.[6][7]

Prior to the 2013 season, Goodwin was ranked as the Nationals third best prospect by Baseball America.[8] He was also ranked as the 52nd best prospect in baseball by MLB.com.[9]

 
Goodwin with the Washington Nationals in 2018

He was called up to the Nationals in August 2016 after hitting .284 in the minor leagues.[10] On August 10, 2016, Goodwin connected for his first major league hit, a single, against the Cleveland Indians.[11] After starting the 2017 season with the Triple-AAA Syracuse Chiefs, Goodwin was promoted to the majors in May, taking the place of injured outfielder Chris Heisey.[12] Goodwin hit his first major league home run on June 2, 2017, at the Oakland Coliseum, connecting for a two-run shot to right-center off Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Zach Neal, amid a four-hit outburst that marked his best day at the plate in his major league career to that point.[13] On July 27, 2017, Goodwin touched off back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs for the Nationals against Michael Blazek of the Milwaukee Brewers, hitting a two-run shot that scored pitcher Max Scherzer from first base to begin the onslaught. It was the first time the feat had been accomplished in Major League Baseball since the 2011 season.[14]

Kansas City Royals

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On July 22, 2018, the Nationals traded Goodwin to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor league pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan.[15] Goodwin was released by the Royals on March 25, 2019.[16]

Los Angeles Angels

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On March 27, 2019, Goodwin was claimed off release waivers by the Los Angeles Angels.[17] In 2019 with the Angels, Goodwin appeared in 136 contests, hitting .262/.346/.470 with 17 home runs and 47 RBI, both career highs.[18] In 2020, Goodwin was the Opening Day starting right fielder for the Angels, and got a hit and an RBI in 3 at-bats.

Cincinnati Reds

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On August 31, 2020, Goodwin was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Packy Naughton and Jose Salvador. [19] On September 1, he made his debut for the Reds, going 1 for 3 with a double. On December 2, Goodwin was non-tendered by the Reds.

Pittsburgh Pirates

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On February 11, 2021, Goodwin signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization that included an invitation to Spring Training.[20] On May 3, 2021, Goodwin was released by the Pirates.[21]

Chicago White Sox

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On May 4, 2021, Goodwin signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox organization.[22] On June 10, Goodwin was selected to the active roster.[23] On June 12, he made his White Sox debut and notched a three-run homer with five RBI in the game.[24][25] He became the 38th player in White Sox history to hit a home run in his White Sox debut.[26] On August 1, 2021, Goodwin hit his first career walk-off hit with a home run off of Nick Wittgren of the Cleveland Indians to win the game 2–1.[27] He finished the season batting .221/.319/.374 with 8 home runs and 29 RBIs in 72 games. On November 5, 2021, Goodwin was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and elected free agency.[28]

Leones de Yucatán

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On May 4, 2022, Goodwin signed with the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League.[29] In 32 games, he batted .239/.350/.436 with 6 home runs and 19 RBIs. Goodwin was released on June 14, 2022.

Wei Chuan Dragons

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On August 18, 2022, Goodwin signed with the Wei Chuan Dragons of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He became a free agent following the 2022 season.

Long Island Ducks

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On May 23, 2023, Goodwin signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 59 games he slashed .277/.385/.514 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI. He became a free agent following the season.

References

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  1. ^ "#21 Brian Goodwin - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  2. ^ Foley, Brian (May 11, 2011). "Brian Goodwin commits to South Carolina". College Baseball Daily. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  3. ^ "Nationals agree to terms with OF Brian Goodwin, 34th overall selection in 2011 First-Year Player Draft - Washington Nationals". March 4, 2016. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  4. ^ "BaseballAmerica.com: Prospects: Rankings: Organization Top 10 Prospects: 2012 Washington Nationals Top 10 Prospects". November 12, 2011. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  5. ^ Kilgore, Adam (July 20, 2012). "Nationals promote Brian Goodwin, Eury Perez". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  6. ^ "Billy Hamilton, Brian Goodwin shine bright in AFL Rising Stars Game - whitesox.com: News". November 12, 2012. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  7. ^ Steve Gardner, USA TODAY Sports (November 4, 2012). "Speedy prospects grab spotlight in Arizona Fall League". Usatoday.com. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  8. ^ "BaseballAmerica.com: Prospects: Rankings: Organization Top 10 Prospects: 2013 Washington Nationals Top 10 Prospects". December 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 22, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  9. ^ "MLB.com's Top 100 Prospect list". Mlb.mlb.com. May 24, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  10. ^ Janes, Chelsea (August 6, 2016). "Brian Goodwin gets first big league call-up". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  11. ^ "Goodwin earns first MLB hit in first MLB start". Rocky Mount Telegram. August 10, 2016. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  12. ^ Castillo, Jorge (May 25, 2017). "Nationals pinch-hitting specialist Chris Heisey to undergo MRI exam for biceps injury". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  13. ^ "Murphy, Goodwin power 20-hit attack, Nationals top A's 13-3". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. June 3, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  14. ^ Castillo, Jorge (July 27, 2017). "Back-to-back-to-back-to-back: Nats club four homers in a row and eight in four innings". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  15. ^ "Royals acquire OF Goodwin from Nationals". ESPN.com. July 22, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  16. ^ The Washington Post
  17. ^ Adams, Steve (March 27, 2019). "Angels Claim Brian Goodwin off Release Waivers". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  18. ^ "Brian Goodwin Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  19. ^ "Reds land OF Goodwin, Bradley in two deals". MLB.com.
  20. ^ "Pirates Sign Brian Goodwin".
  21. ^ "Pirates Release Brian Goodwin".
  22. ^ "White Sox Sign Brian Goodwin".
  23. ^ "White Sox Place Nick Madrigal on 60-Day Injured List, Select Brian Goodwin".
  24. ^ "Brian Goodwin 2021 Batting Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  25. ^ "Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers Box Score, June 12, 2021". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  26. ^ Editor, Jim Green Sports. "Goodwin Baseball Camp returns". RockyMount Telegram. Retrieved March 18, 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  27. ^ Hoynes, Paul; clevel; .com (August 1, 2021). "Cleveland Indians blown away by White Sox, 2-1, on Brian Goodwin's walk-off HR". cleveland. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  28. ^ "White Sox outright 4 players, who all become free agents". November 5, 2021.
  29. ^ @leonesdeyucatan (May 4, 2022). "¡MIREN QUIEN YA ESTÁ EN LA CUEVA!🔥👀 Por @CervezaTecate. El nuevo refuerzo melenudo Brian Goodwin, ya se viste con los colores felinos🟠🟢 ¡Vamos a rugir con ganas!🔥 #VíveloComoFiera" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via Twitter.
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