Niko Goodrum
Goodrum with the Detroit Tigers in 2018
Minnesota Twins
Infielder / Outfielder
Born: (1992-02-28) February 28, 1992
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: September 2, 2017, for the Minnesota Twins
KBO: July 21, 2023, for the Lotte Giants
MLB statistics
(through May 4, 2022)
Batting average.228
Home runs42
Runs batted in152
Stolen bases45
KBO statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.295
Home runs0
Runs batted in28
Teams

Cartier Niko Goodrum (born February 28, 1992) is an American professional baseball utility player in the Minnesota Twins organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros. He has also played in the KBO League for the Lotte Giants. Goodrum has played every fielding position in his major league career except pitcher and catcher.[1]

Career

Minnesota Twins

Goodrum attended Fayette County High School in Fayetteville, Georgia. The Minnesota Twins selected Goodrum in the second round, with the 71st overall selection, of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He signed, receiving a $514,800 signing bonus, and made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Twins of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.[3]

With the Elizabethton Twins of the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2011, Goodrum had a .275 batting average.[4] For the Cedar Rapids Kernals of the Single–A Midwest League in 2013, Goodrum batted .260. In 2014, Goodrum played for the Fort Myers Miracle of the High–A Florida State League, where he batted .249 with 3 home runs and 49 RBI's and he transitioned from shortstop to third base.[5] Goodrum spent 2015 with both Fort Myers and the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Double–A Southern League, where he posted a combined .232 batting average with nine home runs and 38 RBIs.

Goodrum began the 2017 season with the Rochester Red Wings of the Triple–A International League.[6] The Twins promoted him to the major leagues on September 1.[7] He was outrighted to Triple–A on November 3, 2017. He elected free agency on November 6.

Detroit Tigers

Goodrum signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers on November 25, 2017. The deal included an invitation to the Tigers' 2018 spring training camp.[8] After a strong spring season, which included hitting four home runs, Goodrum made the Tigers' 25-man opening day roster.[9]

Goodrum hit his first major league home run on April 5, 2018, off Joakim Soria of the Chicago White Sox.[10] On May 14, he hit two home runs while driving in five in a 6–3 Tigers win over the Cleveland Indians.[11]

Goodrum finished the 2018 season with a .245 batting average, 16 home runs, 53 RBI, and 12 stolen bases, while playing six positions in the field (all four infield positions, plus left field and right field). He was awarded the 2018 Detroit Tigers Rookie of the Year Award in voting by members of Detroit Sports Media Association.

In a May 31, 2019 game against the Atlanta Braves, Goodrum went 5-for-5 with a double and two home runs. He became the first Tigers player to go 5-for-5 with at least three extra-base hits and two home runs in a game since Dmitri Young in 2003, and the first Tigers shortstop to collect five hits in a game since Alan Trammell in 1987.[12] He also was the first player to have five hits while playing for the first time in his home state since Ohio-born Pete Susko did so for the Washington Senators at Cleveland in 1934.[13][14] Goodrum was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 24 due to an adductor strain.[15] He did not return the rest of the season. For the year, Goodrum hit .248 with 12 home runs and 45 RBI in 423 at-bats.

Overall with the 2020 Detroit Tigers, Goodrum batted .184 with five home runs and 20 RBIs in 43 games.[16]

On January 15, 2021, the Tigers and Goodrum agreed to a one-year, $2.1 million contract, avoiding arbitration.[17] Goodrum played 90 games for the 2021 Tigers, batting .214 with 9 home runs, 33 RBI and 14 stolen bases.[18] The Tigers removed Goodrum from the 40-man roster following the 2021 season. On November 19, 2021, Goodrum cleared waivers and elected free agency.[19]

Houston Astros

On March 15, 2022, Goodrum signed a one-year, $2.1 million contract with the Houston Astros.[20] He batted .116 in 15 games for Houston before they optioned him to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.[21] On September 1, Goodrum was designated for assignment.[22] He cleared waivers and became a free agent on September 3.

Boston Red Sox

On December 21, 2022, Goodrum signed a minor-league contract with the Boston Red Sox organization.[23] He began the 2023 season with the Triple–A Worcester Red Sox, playing in 65 games and hitting .280/.448/.440 with 8 home runs, 36 RBI, and 7 stolen bases. On July 3, 2023, Goodrum exercised the opt–out clause in his contract and was released by the Red Sox.[24]

Lotte Giants

On July 11, 2023, Goodrum signed a $400,000 contract with the Lotte Giants of the KBO League.[25] In 50 games for the Giants, Goodrum hit .295/.373/.387 with no home runs and 28 RBI.

Minnesota Twins (second stint)

On December 14, 2023, Goodrum signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins.[26]

Personal life

Goodrum's father, Tim, played college football for Fort Valley State University.[5]

On June 11, 2018, after learning about the Flint water crisis, Goodrum donated 1,440 cases of water to residents of Flint.[27][28]

References

  1. ↑ "Niko Goodrum - Baseball Reference page". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Major-league teams extend lovefest with Georgia players". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Twins 2010 draft update". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Checking on players on the other side of camp". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  5. 1 2 David Dorsey (April 27, 2014). "Miracle's Niko Goodrum not coming up short at third". The News-Press. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Niko Goodrum showing off his versatility with Red Wings". Democratandchronicle.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  7. ↑ Velle, La (September 1, 2017). "Buxton 'progressing' with injured wrist; enters as pinch runner". StarTribune.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Tigers sign Blaine Hardy, avoid arbitration". Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  9. ↑ Woodbery, Evan (March 27, 2018). "Niko Goodrum ready to be jack of all trades for Tigers in 2018". MLive.com. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  10. ↑ Beck, Jason (April 5, 2018). "Tigers rally late, spoil White Sox home opener". MLB.com. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  11. ↑ Beck, Jason (May 14, 2018). "Goodrum's 2 homers help Tigers solve Tribe". MLB.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  12. ↑ Beck, Jason (May 31, 2019). "Goodrum has 'superhuman' game in hometown". MLB.com. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  13. ↑ Fenech, Anthony (May 31, 2019). "Tigers' Niko Goodrum mashes Braves in happy homecoming, 8-2 win". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Goodrum's 2 homers, 5 hits lead Tigers past Braves 8-2". ESPN.com. May 31, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  15. ↑ McCoskey, Chris (August 24, 2019). "Tigers' Niko Goodrum aggravates groin, placed on injured list". The Detroit News. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Niko Goodrum Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Tigers avoid arbitration with all 8 remaining players". foxsports.com. January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Niko Goodrum Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  19. ↑ McCosky, Chris. "Tigers let Niko Goodrum become free agent, clear spots for two prospects". The Detroit News. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  20. ↑ McTaggart, Brian (March 15, 2022). "Goodrum to bring his versatility to Astros". MLB.com. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Mr. Versatility with Detroit Tigers, Niko Goodrum loses his big-league spot". May 15, 2022.
  22. ↑ Vita, Jack (September 1, 2022). "Houston Astros call up prospects Hunter Brown and Yainer Diaz". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  23. ↑ Leger, Justin (December 21, 2022). "Red Sox sign utility man Niko Goodrum to minor league deal". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 21, 2022 – via Yahoo!.
  24. ↑ "Niko Goodrum: Exercising opt-out clause". cbssports.com. July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Lotte Giants sign ex-MLB player Niko Goodrum". m-en.yna.co.kr. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Twins' Niko Goodrum: Signs minors deal with Twins". cbssports.com. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Detroit tigers Niko Goodrum Flint water crisis". Detroitnews.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Detroit Tigers Niko Goodrum gives away bottled water in Flint". MLive.com. June 11, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
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