Player Note: Brian Goodwin, OF, Nationals

Brian Goodwin, OF, Washington Nationals
Bats: L Throws: L HT: 6-1 WT: 195 DOB: November 2, 1990

Drafted in the supplemental first round in 2011, Brian Goodwin has the best toolset in the Nationals minor league system, featuring above-average speed and power. He's still learning the nuances of stealing, but his defense in center field looks quite good, as he demonstrates plus range and a strong, accurate arm. With the bat, Goodwin had no problems in Low-A, showing sound plate discipline with above-average power, posting a terrific +36 percent OPS and a superb .468 SEC He skipped a level to Double-A and found that more challenging, as he fell into a bad habit of chasing breaking pitches and fastballs outside the hittable zone. This cramped his numbers down to a -6 percent OPS and .259 SEC. He has a good natural eye, so I think the Double-A problem is more an issue of preparation and mental approach than a lack of organic talent. Goodwin showed both his talents and his flaws in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .238/.340/.475 with 12 walks and 25 strikeouts in 80 at-bats. Overall, I like Goodwin quite a bit. He needs another year in the minors, but his upside as a multi-tooled, Seven Skill player is high enough to merit a Grade B+.

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