Washington Nationals News: Nats hope Brian Goodwin takes next step
By Pablo Roa
Today’s District Daily features stories on Washington Nationals prospect Brian Goodwin and a new documentary about manager Dusty Baker.
Good evening DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.
In today’s Daily, MLB.com’s Bill Ladson discusses Nationals outfield prospect, Brian Goodwin. As Ladson notes, Goodwin was considered one of the organization’s best prospects not long ago and many expected him to be the team’s leadoff hitter of the future. Unfortunately for Goodwin, injuries and poor play have derailed those plans — at least for now.
As Ladson writes, Goodwin is coming off an encouraging season in winter ball and appears to have made strides at the plate. The stakes are high for Goodwin in 2016 as the young outfielder is entering his third year at Triple-A Syracuse. If Goodwin has what it takes to play in the big leagues, he’ll have to demonstrate it in 2016.
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With Ben Revere and Michael Taylor likely set in centerfield for several years for the Nationals, it’s hard to see how Goodwin fits into the team’s future plans. Nevertheless, a solid 2016 season for Goodwin would be great news for the Nationals. If he returns to the form that made him into a top prospect, there’s no doubt he’ll be a huge help for team — either on the field, or as part of a trade down the road.
Also in today’s Daily, Ladson writes about a new MLB Network documentary featuring new Nationals manager Dusty Baker. The documentary “Dusty: A Baseball Journey,” which will air Tuesday at 9 p.m., discusses Baker’s 50+ years in baseball.
Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth the read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.
Nats hopeful Goodwin takes next step
(Bill Ladson, MLB.com)
WASHINGTON — After being chosen as a compensation pick in the 2011 MLB Draft and receiving a $3 million signing bonus, outfielder Brian Goodwin was projected to be the Nationals’ leadoff hitter of the future.
But a left shoulder injury and some struggles in the field have left Goodwin’s future a little less clear. During his four years in professional baseball, the left-handed hitter has a .251 batting average with 44 home runs, 201 RBIs and a .345 on-base percentage. After being listed by MLB.com as one of the Nationals’ top five prospects in 2012, Goodwin was most recently listed as the 24th-best prospect in the organization.
However, a strong campaign in the Venezuelan Winter League has rekindled some optimism for Goodwin, who reached Triple-A in 2014 but has yet to play in the Major Leagues. Read full article here.
Baker’s journey to be chronicled in Network doc
WASHINGTON — Dusty Baker managed some good teams over the years, but he calls the 2016 Nationals the most talented team he’s had. It helps that the team has outfielder Bryce Harper and right-hander Max Scherzer on the roster.
As Baker prepares for his first season in the nation’s capital, MLB Network will premiere “Dusty: A Baseball Journey,” hosted by Bob Costas and premiering Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET. Read full article here.