Over the first half of the 2018 season, Niko Goodrum has been exceeding expectations for the Detroit Tigers.
Over the offseason, the Detroit Tigers signed Niko Goodrum to a minor league deal. Goodrum had spent eight seasons in the Minnesota Twins‘ system. He made his big league debut with the Twins last season, but struggled to the tune of a .059/.111/.059 batting line over 11 games.
In spring training of this year, the Tigers had an opening for a utility player. Andrew Romine, who had served as the Tigers’ utility man since 2014, was lost on waivers to the Seattle Mariners over the offseason. After a strong spring training performance, Goodrum ended up winning the utility role.
So far in 2018, Goodrum has proven to be extremely valuable. Not only has he been a big asset in the field, playing six different positions, he has provided a solid bat as well. Through 78 games, Goodrum is hitting .250/.319/.456 (107 OPS+) with nine home runs and 32 RBI. His nine home runs tie John Hicks and Leonys Martin for third-most on the team.
While he may not be hitting for a great average and his strikeout rate is a bit high (28.6 percent), the switch-hitting Goodrum has certainly shown that he has power in his bat. In his four seasons with the Tigers, Romine never hit more than four home runs.
As of right now, it certainly appears that the Tigers see Goodrum as a bit more than just a utility player. The rise of Goodrum also made Dixon Machado expendable. Machado, who began the year as the team’s second baseman, got off to a good start this season, but was designated for assignment in early July. The Tigers later announced that Machado had cleared waivers and had been assigned to Triple-A Toledo.
A key part of the future?
If Goodrum continues to perform the way he has thus far, it will be interesting to see how he could factor into the Tigers’ plans for the future. The Tigers could decide to keep him at second base, but it is possible that prospect Dawel Lugo could compete for that job at some point as well.
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With Jose Iglesias set to reach free agency at season’s end, perhaps the Tigers might be wise to give Goodrum a chance at shortstop. Goodrum has started only five games at shortstop this season, but he played the position extensively in the minor leagues.
Goodrum can also play outfield. However, the Tigers’ outfield situation will likely be a bit crowded next year, even if Nicholas Castellanos is traded. JaCoby Jones, Mikie Mahtook and Victor Reyes could all be in the mix for outfield jobs, and Martin could also be retained through the arbitration process.
The Tigers have a power hitting prospect in Christin Stewart, who looks about ready for a big league Job. Though Mike Gerber has struggled a bit in Triple-A this season, he has put together a solid resume of work in the Tigers’ minor league system as well.
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Regardless of what Goodrum’s role might be in the future, it is certainly looking like he is a keeper. They Tigers made an astute move in signing him to a minor league deal. Though the Tigers’ season hasn’t exactly been going great, per se, Goodrum has been one of the biggest surprises for the team in the first half.