The Win-Win Situation

Rocky Mount’s Goodwin is in control of his own options – turn professional or go to college

Most athletes would have followed the trend.

Brian Goodwin went against the grain.

The former Rocky Mount High center fielder knew his name would be called at some point during last week’s 2009 Major League Baseball Rule IV Draft, but instead of waiting by the phone or sitting in his parents’ living room staring at the television set, Goodwin did what he does best.

He played baseball.

The 18-year-old was in Cincinnati, playing for the Midland Redskins wooden-bat travel ball squad on the first day of the draft. He played in a game that night, then went to his host family’s house and tested his ping pong skills.

The next day, while in an airport on his way back to North Carolina, Goodwin’s phone rang. It was an adviser from the Scott Boras Corporation telling him the Chicago White Sox were going to select him with the 523rd overall pick.

Goodwin was a 17th-round selection.

“I didn’t think they went through that many rounds in one day,” Goodwin said hours after being drafted. “They told me it would be after the 10th round.”

There was no draft party at the Goodwins’ house. After a year of opening their home to scouts, potential advisers and having their phones ring often, the family let the draft take its course.

It’s all Goodwin could do for the moment. He could control his swing at the plate and his glove in center field with some of the nation’s better players, but ultimately, the decision on which team drafted Goodwin was not his.

Goodwin has regained control. It will be up to him during the next two months to decide whether to begin a professional career or play college baseball an hour-and-a-half away from his hometown.

It’s a decision that, no matter the outcome, will involve the most simple part of the process.

Playing baseball.

* * *

Goodwin’s response is definitive when asked what attracted him to commit to North Carolina.

“They win a lot,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin could be on track to Chapel Hill rather than White Sox minor league stops in Kannapolis, Birmingham, Ala., Winston-Salem or Fort Mill, S.C. Between the N.C. State Games and playing in Cincinnati, Goodwin will attend freshman orientation at North Carolina.

The Tar Heels recently advanced to their fourth consecutive College World Series, and Goodwin has said playing in Omaha, Neb., longtime site of the CWS, is one of his goals.

He can see himself on college baseball’s biggest stage.

“Next year,” Goodwin said with a grin.

Most of Goodwin’s interaction with the coaching staff at North Carolina has been with assistants. Goodwin said he respects the reputation of coach Mike Fox, a former N.C. Wesleyan skipper.

“He’s a good guy,” Goodwin said. “He cares about his players. He enjoys winning. I hear he’s a hard-nosed guy. I know he wins. Whatever he’s doing, it’s working.”

Goodwin’s parents, Sylvester and Brenda, said they are impressed with the Tar Heels’ program. They attended the ACC Tournament in Durham last month and some of the team’s NCAA regional tournament games.

“Any time we had a question, we felt free to pick up the phone and call them,” Brenda Goodwin said. “And they would return our calls.”

The ACC Tournament also gave the Goodwins a chance to meet with adviser Scott Boras. Boras, a highly-visible agent who represents a number of big-league stars, including Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez, will also handle negotiations between the Washington Nationals and Stephen Strasburg, the No. 1 pick in last week’s draft.

“(Boras) was very personable and down to earth,” Sylvester Goodwin said. “You can tell why he is so successful.”

* * *

The point of drafting a player is to sign him. The Chicago White Sox – like many other teams – spent the last year watching Goodwin play.

“He played up to expectations,” said Andrew Pinter, the North Carolina/Virginia area scout for the White Sox. “It was a nice year for him.”

Pinter said he saw Goodwin play in at least 12 games, beginning last summer. Pinter does not handle negotiations, but he said the organization likes the player it chose in the 17th round.