University of North Carolina Athletics
From Tar Heels Today: Goodwin's A Good One
March 12, 2010 | Baseball
March 12, 2010
This story originally appeared in Tar Heels Today, a weekly web magazine that is an exclusive benefit of Rams Club membership.
Brian Goodwin is simply too fast for modern baseball equipment. The freshman outfielder from Rocky Mount officially leads the Diamond Heels with three triples through his first ten games - in 2009, five players shared the team lead with four through 66 - and unofficially leads the team with four helmets flown off on the base paths.
Through Saturday, Goodwin's helmet had hit the dirt four times - on each of his triples and on an infield single. Watch Goodwin place a ball in the outfield and a remarkable thing happens: a would-be single often becomes a double. If a ball is hit for extra bases, Goodwin will often reach for one more. If the ball hits the bat, Goodwin wants to be in scoring position within seconds. "I want to be on first if I get walked," he says. "If I put it in play, I want to try to get to second."
Woe to the opposing team that sees Goodwin shed the helmet. Gardner-Webb was victimized in the second inning Thursday. Ryan Graepel brought Goodwin home on a sacrifice fly, and the Bulldogs learned their lesson. On his next at-bat, Goodwin flied out to shortstop, but on the three that followed, he was intentionally walked. A true freshman was being walked - even if it meant loading the bases - so Gardner-Webb could pitch to a senior. The strategy backfired in the ninth, when Graepel singled through the left side to drive in the winning run.
Despite his prowess at the plate, Goodwin is no slouch in right field. He replaces the graduated Garrett Gore, himself known for his arm strength. Friday, Michigan threatened with runners on second and third and one out. Wolverine Chris Berset attempted a sacrifice fly to bring in Mike Dufek. Goodwin caught the ball 300 feet from home plate, pumped and fired toward catcher Jacob Stallings. Double play. Dufek had no chance at the plate, and pitcher Matt Harvey kept a clean sheet. "I heard some people yelling, `Go to third,'" Goodwin says. "But it was pre-determined."
`Pre-determined.' Sometimes it seems that way. It's fun for Tar Heel fans to watch an athlete come into their own, claiming their place among the greats. It happened with Julius Peppers, Ivory Latta, Tyler Hansbrough, and Dustin Ackley. "If Brian Goodwin will just stay with the process, stay healthy, and keep learning every day, you guys are going to be able to do exactly what I'm going to do," Coach Mike Fox said last week. "You're going to watch him grow up."
Turner Walston is the managing editor of Tar Heel Monthly. Turner's weekly Carolina Baseball Podcast, co-hosted by former Tar Heel Garrett Gore, is available on iTunes.
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