Nationals' instructional league list of outfielders features first-rounder Goodwin

The Nationals' instructional league conducts their first workout with a roster of 52 players today in Viera, Fla. One of the top three selections by the Nationals in the June First-Year Player Draft, Miami-Dade College speedster Brian Goodwin, heads the list of talented outfielders. Goodwin batted .382 (60-for-157) with 11 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 37 RBIs and 42 runs scored in 47 games with Miami Dade College in 2011. As a member of the Louisville Slugger All-Freshman team, Goodwin batted .291 with 13 doubles, eight triples, seven home runs, 63 RBIs, seven stolen bases and 47 runs scored in 60 games with the University of North Carolina in 2010. The Nationals' talent-rich outfielder list was showcased this summer in Single-A Hagerstown, with players such as Kevin Keyes, Randolph Oduber and Michael Taylor. Those three players, alongside Wade Moore and No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper, provided superior depth at that position which helped the Suns play top-of-the-division baseball the entire season. Keyes, Oduber and Taylor are on the instructional roster this fall, and will work with several coaches in Viera for the next month, including outfielder coordinator Tony Tarasco. Other instructional roster invitees include short season Auburn players Billy Burns, Goodwin and Caleb Ramsey. From the Dominican Republic, Potomac Nationals outfielder Eury Perez is on the roster. Perez hit .283 in 119 games for the P-Nats, smacking nine doubles, 41 RBIs and stealing 45 bases. Also, from the Dominican, 19-year-old outfielder Narciso Mesa who played this summer in the Gulf Coast League for the Nationals. And as I wrote about last week, Double-A Harrisburg first baseman Tyler Moore will spend at least 10 days with the team working with Tarasco, learning a new position in the outfield. The Mississippi State product has hit 62 homers in the past two seasons but is blocked by Chris Marrero at first base, and that depends on Marrero's status with the big club in spring training, 2012.