LA Angels Brian Goodwin starting to feel at home in Anaheim

When LA Angels outfielder Brian Goodwin went to Spring Training with the Kansas City Royals he was feeling good coming off a decent 2018 season.

Goodwin probably had no idea that he would end up in LA Angels red before Spring Training ended.  Last season Goodwin had been traded from the Washington Nationals to the Royals and played 27 games in KC hitting .266 with three homers and 13 RBIs.

He was competing for an outfield spot on the Royals, when the bottom fell out. Goodwin hit .116 going 5 for 43 this Spring for the Royals and he was unceremoniously put on waivers by Kansas City.

Goodwin explains how tough March 26th was for him when he learned the Royals no longer wanted him.

“It was one of the lowest points in my career (being put on waivers). But when I found out I was going to LA it’s hard to be disappointed about that,” Goodwin said. “Once I got here it is everything I thought it was going to be. This has been a blessing I’m just thankful the Angels gave me this opportunity.”

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On March 27th the Angels claimed Goodwin off waivers and soon worked out a deal to bring him to Anaheim to serve as a fourth outfielder along with Peter Bourjos. The move was necessitated by an injury to Justin Upton, who tore a ligament in the big toe of his left foot (turf toe) running into a wall trying to track down a ball against the Dodgers two days before the season started.

At first Goodwin was part of a lefty-righty platoon with Bourjos.  Goodwin hit .370 over the first two weeks of the season while Bourjos hit .118 and all of the sudden Goodwin was the every day left fielder while Bourjos was his back -up.

Goodwin was making the most of his opportunity to play.

“When I got here the door was wide open, the position (left field) was there for the taking,” Goodwin said. “To be able to win the position and getting to play every day is unbelievable. Definitely not something to take for granted.”

Goodwin has continued to flourish as the Angels every day left fielder. He ended April with a .342 batting average which was the fifth best average in the American League. Goodwin smacked four homers and drove in 11 runs including a game-winning home run in a 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays on April 30th.

“It feels good when you go to the plate and you have people cheering for you. It feels good to have the fans cheering for me here in Anaheim,” said Goodwin of the Angel fans. “I’m just going to try to keep contributing and try to help the team win. Hope to keep getting the love from the fans.  They have been great.”

Goodwin and another early season surprise Tommy La Stella have gained some recognition outside of Anaheim in a recent USA Today article.  Take a look.

Goodwin has cooled off slightly this month hitting only .246 with no homers and four RBIs.  However, he still has a .298 batting average for the season with four homers and 15 RBIs.

David Fletcher has played a few games in left field against some tough lefties, but Goodwin is still the main left fielder for now.  In about a month when Justin Upton comes back from an injury Goodwin’s role will most likely change again.  Goodwin is taking that situation in stride.

“If I’ve learned one thing from this experience (being released by the Royals), you really can’t control what happens in the front office,” Goodwin said. “There’s really no point in putting anytime trying to figure it out. It’s really out of your hands. All I really can do is go out every night be the best version of me, play my butt off, and contribute to the team winning and do my part.”

Welcome to Anaheim Brian Goodwin.  You have been amazing so fr and are a pleasure to watch.