The Nationals have signed sandwich round pick Brian Goodwin to a contract worth $3 million.
Goodwin, a center fielder, was selected No. 34 overall in June’s Major League Baseball draft. He was the second of two compensation picks after Adam Dunn left via free agency last winter. The team also inked left-handed pitcher Kylin Turnbull to a contract on Monday worth $325,000. He was the team’s fourth-round pick.
Many in the organization see Goodwin as a top-of-the-order hitter with good power and think he can play center field effectively, too. Some scouts question him defensively at that spot. There were some character issues that came up last season, also. Goodwin committed an academic infraction while at North Carolina and transferred to Miami Dade Junior College. He did have some leverage with a scholarship to South Carolina for next spring and a center field job if he wanted to return to school and further build his value.
But in the end the Nats’ bonus offer won out and they added another talented piece to the minor-league system. Goodwin has demonstrated pretty good pitch recognition in college with a patient approach at the plate, according to scouts who have seen him multiple times. Roy Clark, Washington’s vice president of player personnel, personally vouched for Goodwin after Washington made the pick on June 6. Clark himself is a former Tar Heel so he has the connections to know better than most.
Goodwin, a Scott Boras client like Washington’s top two draft picks, Anthony Rendon and Alex Meyer, is likely to start his pro career at low-A Hagerstown or high-A Potomac next spring. Meanwhile, Turnbull is a left-hander pitched from Santa Barbara City College and was committed to Oregon for next season. But Washington went above slot to convince him to turn pro. Turnbull – aside from having a great name – is a 6-foot-4, 195-pounder. He was a 5-2 with a 2.47 ERA at Santa Barbara this year and 92 strikeouts in 80 innings.
“Mr. Turnbull is a very exciting pitcher,” said Roy Clark, Nats vice president of player personnel. “He hasn’t been pitching much. But he’s got a big arm, nice breaking ball and a 6-5 frame. So we had a great day…I think this is a huge day int he franchise history of the Washington Nationals.”
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