It is hard the life of an athlete to judge whether their ability has hit its sumitt or is injury holding that player back from reaching their maximum output on the playing field. Brian Goodwin has been as high as the top prospect for the Washington Nationals with their wish they wanted 1500 minor league at bats.
Goodwin was well on his way until a shoulder injury in the 2014 season curtailed his expectations of being the starting center fielder for the Nationals last year at this time. Whether his injury was healed or not 2015 never brought promise that Goodwin was on his way back for a chance to ever play in the outfield for the Nationals. He was sent to AA where his stats were to say the least not promising.
The Nationals whether they had not given up on Goodwin or they were advertising him to other teams a trip to Venezuela and Fall Ball bought on the old Brian Goodwin. Renewed hope from the Nationals that he spent spring training batting 250 with the big club. His excellent fall ball and spring training has Brian Goodwin back in centerfield for AAA Syracuse Chiefs not AA and a spot on the Nationals for 40 man roster. That makes him eligible to get called up if injury occurs to any outfielder on the Nationals roster.
However because of snow and bad playing field conditions Syracuse had had to postpone the first four games of the season at home. They will instead travel to Lehigh Valley where they will play a double header Friday. No reason explained but the gates will be locked and no fans allowed to watch the doubleheader. Syracuse will not play again until Monday at home.
Hobbs Johnson will start this season where he spent most of last season in Buloxi Mississippi the AA club of the Milwaukee Brewers. He did get an inning in a spring training big league game and gave up a run in the outing. A major goal for 2016 will be in AAA Colorado Springs by years end.
Last year at this time Benton Moss was pitching for the Carolina Tar Heels and by draft time spent the summer in the New York Penn Rookie league. The winter a marriage and Spring Training at the Tampa Bay training facility in Port Charlotte Florida which during the summer is the home of the upper A minor league team of the Rays. 2016 goal AA ball by season's end.
Still not given up yet is the fourth Rocky Mount Gryphon trying to continue his shot at pro baseball. By months end Collins Cuthrell is heading back to Florence Kentucky where he will again play in the Frontier League pretty much a free agent league where any player can be purchased to join their organization. Cuthrell was having a decent year last year when a broken arm ended his season.
The question is, is there a Gryphon on the high school team one day going after their dreams as these four former Gryphons are?
Thursday, April 7, 2016
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