Pittsburgh Pirates: Notable MiLB Free Agent Signing Performances

Outfielder Brian Goodwin

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Brian Goodwin as the team’s potential starting center fielder. Since then, however, the center field job has changed with the Pirates trading for Dustin Fowler and Anthony Alford, along with Fowler, leading to the outfield competition heating up.

Goodwin was a very solid hitter for the Los Angeles Angels in 2019 and 2020. Between the two seasons, the slugger collected 567 plate appearances and put up a .257/,327/.469 line, smacked 21 home runs, ran out 36 doubles while having a .333 wOBA and 109 wRC+. While he struck out 28.9% of the time, he walked at an 8.8% rate and showed some decent pop with a .201 isolated slugging percentage. Goodwin’s overall 2020 numbers were brought down by a slump he had after being traded to the Cincinnati Reds at the trade deadline.

Defensively, he was a slightly below average glove in 2019 with 0 DRS, -1.8 UZR/150 and -1 range runs above average, but did have +5 outs above average. He struggled heavily in 2020 with the leather with -6 DRS and -12.9 UZR/150 and -2.6 range runs above average. Most of Goodwin’s defensive struggles have come in left field, but he’s been a solid defender in center the past 2 seasons with +1 DRS, 3.7 UZR/150 and a only -1.7 range runs above average, but made up for it with +2.7 outfield arm runs above average.

So far he hasn’t looked great at Spring Training. He has just two hits in 16 total trips to the plate. While one was a home run, a grand slam, we should note that his plate discipline has been poor. He’s walked two times against seven strikeouts.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have heavy competition in center field right now with the aforementioned Alford and Fowler, as well as prospect Jared Oliva. However, Goodwin does have the most experience out of all of them and provides them with a bat that has some pop, something that the team desperately needs.