Brian Goodwin making a name for himself with Nats

Right fielder Brian Goodwin played in his 19th game with the Nationals this season Tuesday and has demonstrated a solid approach at the plate and exceptional defense in the outfield.

The 25-year-old lefty, Goodwin is hitting .324 having played all three outfield spots after being called up in early September.

Meanwhile, Trea Turner has supplanted Ben Revere in the leadoff spot and in center field. Goodwin has joined Turner on defense a few times in the Nats outfield.

Revere has played in 100 games this season and is batting .219. Revere has had 27 at-bats in September (hitting .259), while Goodwin has 21 at-bats in that same span (.333).

Goodwin made a nice stride this season for Triple-A Syracuse, hitting .280 through 119 games after hitting .226 for Double-A Harrisburg the year before.

President of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo said they have noticed the progress Goddwin has made to get better this season and what he has shown in a month with the Nats.

"Brian has come a long ways," Rizzo said. "His approach at the plate has been great. He's controlling the strike zone. He's playing terrific defensively. He's made three or four great plays in all three outfield positions which is a big factor for him.

"That's something that he worked on in spring training this year in the big leagues and throughout his season in Triple-A. He's a bright future prospect for us. He gives us a left-handed presence on the bench that can play three outfield positions and contribute offensively."

I interviewed Goodwin in 2013 about this time of year when he played for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. Back then Goodwin was focused on improving his bunting to get on base. He said that part of his approach remains a focus even today.

"I think I was just as focused on the short game then as I am now," Goodwin said. "I really just had the freedom to play and be able to work on that stuff in games and knowing I would get consistent at-bats. I think I started to get a feel for it and that's leading to some actual success."

One of the best at-bats he has had in his young career came Monday night in the 14-4 loss to the D-backs. In the fourth he came up with the bases loaded against Arizona right-hander Archie Bradley.

Earlier, Goodwin crushed an RBI triple off of Bradley to get the Nats on the board.

This time he came to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs and his team trailing 5-1. Goodwin swung and missed at a pair of changeups. He then fought back to a full count before taking a change-up that was off the plate for the walk that brought in another run.

Goodwin talked about that being his best at-bat so far this season, especially after being called up to the major leagues.

"Definitely, definitely, especially here," Goodwin said. "Especially with the crowd in a big situation like that, game on the line, game still close. I think being able to just tone it down and control my emotions. I think that was just huge for me and being successful in that at-bat."

Goodwin said those at-bats are examples of the steps he has made to improve at the plate, how he is a better hitter because of all those at-bats he had this past two seasons, including a stop in Venezuelan winter ball.

Facing so many different types of pitchers and the pitches they throw, he can recognize breaking stuff now a lot better than maybe he could early in his career.

"Just seeing pitches and being confident with my approach and confident in myself," Goodwin said. "Knowing I can see pitches and I can pick up spin, being able to lay off stuff like that knowing in the back of my mind it helps translate when the situation is actually in front of me."

Goodwin also displayed his defense Monday on the game's very first play when he robbed Arizona's Jean Segura of extra bases with a catch up against the right-center field wall.

How does he like working and learning the dimensions of Nats Park?

"It's a little bit different. Parks get a little bit bigger," Goodwin said. "You still have to run it down. You got to get good jumps. You got to see the ball off the bat."

Goodwin said building confidence on defense only makes him want to reach his goal of a top defender even more enticing.

"I think that's something that I've done up to this point and I think its something that I'm going to continue to do and keep improving on and hopefully it's Gold Glove ability out there," Goodwin said.

"That's where I want to be."

Goodwin also appreciates the times he is teamed up with Turner in the outfield. It's an all-ACC side of the outfield with N.C. State's Turner in center and UNC's Goodwin in right.

"It's awesome. You know his mentality," Goodwin said. "You know how he approaches the game and how bad he wants it. So I think having somebody out there that you know that about them and you know you want it equally as bad just gives you the ultimate confidence that the whole outfield is taking care of."

So that leaves the biggest question: is Goodwin good enough to earn a post season roster spot?

Manager Dusty Baker has touted Goodwin's ability for the past few weeks. He explained what it would take to make his 25-man roster against the Dodgers.

"You see he's getting opportunities," Baker said. "That speaks volumes right there especially as I was trying to decide who I'm going to keep. You can sway my mind down the stretch by your performance.

"It's not necessarily hits, the fight that you are presenting. Your competitiveness: like how you play the game. It's a total game. He's been very impressive. It's not a tryout camp. If your getting opportunities to play there's a good chance you are doing something. Or I'm just out of numbers sometimes."

I asked Rizzo if a September call-up or two could get one of the coveted roster spots for the postseason.

"We're going to go with the best 25 that suit our needs the best in any given series," Rizzo said. "So we're open minded about the roster and who makes it. And whoever is going to make it, safe to say we believe they're going to give us the best chance to win."