Baseball freshman Goodwin finds his stroke

With no base runners and two outs in the bottom of the third inning, North Carolina’s freshman Brian Goodwin was just supposed to get what he could.

By precedent, that wouldn’t be much, but in Sunday’s game against Maine, Goodwin finally found his stroke.

“You guys are going to be like me,” UNC coach Mike Fox said. “We’re going to get to watch, if Brian Goodwin were to stay with the process and stay healthy and keep learning every day, you guys are going to be able to do exactly what I’m going to be able to do. You’re going to watch him grow up.”

Goodwin has struggled to find his rhythm at the plate this season, batting just .182 before Sunday’s game. In this instance, down in the count with two strikes, Goodwin lined a pitch over second base and past the diving glove of Maine shortstop Tony Patane for a hit.

But one base wasn’t good enough for Goodwin.

“I had coach (Matt) McCay in my ear telling me to try to beat it and test his arm,” Goodwin said.

While most would have played it safe, the freshman turned on his burners, charged second base and just made it with a headfirst dive.

“Honest to goodness, I put my head down,” Fox said. “I didn’t know he was running. I heard our dugout holler and I looked up and he was sliding into second.”

After the play, Goodwin collected himself and retraced his steps to gather his helmet, which had fallen off during his mad dash.

“He’s got every possible tool you can have talent-wise,” Fox said. “You can see, I mean, he can just flip his wrist. And he can run; you saw him just hit a single, and next thing you know he’s sliding (into second). He’s going to be a fun player to watch.”

After a 3-for-5 performance on Sunday that followed his two-run homer on Saturday, Goodwin has elevated his batting average to .259 on 7-of-27 hitting.

The freshman was rated the No. 10 prospect by Baseball America in 2008 as one of the most complete players in the country, but his speed is what is most mesmerizing.

Of Goodwin’s seven hits this season, more than half have gone for extra bases — a double, two triples and the fourth a home run.

“I think I’m just starting to put things together a little bit better,” Goodwin said. “I’m just starting to get things back to where they were.”

Goodwin once again displayed his swiftness in the fifth inning. Senior Ryan Graepel drilled a shot down the left field line and Goodwin took off running from first base. By the time Maine left fielder Ian Leisenheimer looked up, Goodwin was approaching third base.

But once again Goodwin didn’t stop, encouraged by Fox to round third and head home.

“He was just telling me, ‘Keep going,’” Goodwin said. “In my head, I wanted to score. And, once I rounded second, he was still turning his arm so I was ready to go.”

Goodwin’s speed will be an asset all season for the Tar Heels, who, like Goodwin, are aggressive base runners.

But Goodwin wasn’t just brought in to be a pinch runner. He was brought in to make plays in all areas of the game.

But he’s still a freshman, and although he just started to show glimpses of his talent this weekend, Fox knows that his development will take time.

“He’s just been soaking up things like a sponge and trying to learn,” Fox said. “I’m glad to see him obviously get a couple hits because then it’s about confidence.”

Despite Goodwin’s ongoing adjustment to college-level pitchers, he knows he can run with the best of them.

“With me being fast, I’m able to kind of do whatever out there,” Goodwin said. “Just use my speed as an advantage for us and make them throw me out.”



Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.