Nationals select right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer at No. 23, outfielder Brian Goodwin at No. 34

The Washington Nationals today selected University of Kentucky right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer (23rd overall) and Miami Dade College outfielder Brian Goodwin (34th) in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Personnel Roy Clark and Nationals Director of Scouting Kris Kline made the joint announcement. Meyer went 7-5 with a 2.94 ERA in 14 starts for Kentucky in 2011, fanning 110 (ninth in NCAA) in 101.0 innings (9.8 per 9.0 innings pitched). In 10 starts against Southeastern Conference competition, Meyer posted five wins (beat Tennessee, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Georgia and Florida), three complete games, and 71 strikeouts in 73.1 innings to garner second-team All-SEC accolades. Meyer, who stands an imposing 6-foot-9, 220 lbs., has three "plus" pitches: a fastball that approaches triple digits, a slider and a changeup. As a prep, Meyer was named an Aflac All-America, Louisville Slugger High School All-American and Gatorade Indiana Player of the Year. He was drafted by the Red Sox in 2008, but did not sign in order to attend Kentucky. Goodwin batted .382 (60-for-157) with 11 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 37 RBI and 42 runs scored in 47 games with Miami Dade College in 2011. The left-handed hitting Goodwin posted a .492 on-base percentage and 16 stolen bases for the Sharks. The 6-foot, 190-lbs. Goodwin began his collegiate career at the University of North Carolina, where he batted .291 with 13 doubles, eight triples, seven home runs, 63 RBI, seven stolen bases and 47 runs scored in 60 games in 2010. He drew 45 walks and had a .409 on-base percentage for the Tar Heels en route to being named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Team. Goodwin was selected by the White Sox in the '09 First-Year Player Draft (did not sign) after being named the Gatorade Player of the Year in North Carolina.