Niko Goodrum #22

Attended Fayette County High School in Fayetteville, Ga...During the 2020 COVID-19 pause between Spring Training and Summer Camp he participated in the “MLB The Show” Player Challenge on-line league, resulting in $5,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan...also participated in the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan’s virtual club “takeover” event which raised more than $320,000...Also in 2020 he played a significant role in Detroit's efforts in the area of COVID-19 prevention and relief, while continuing to be a leader in other vital spaces such as striving for racial equality, honoring COVID-19 front line heroes and those in need...During the 2019 season, visited students at West Hills Middle School to discuss the legacy of Jackie Robinson and highlight a student who was one of the national winners of the Breaking Barriers essay contest...purchased and distributed cases of water that were delivered to community partners in both Detroit and Flint in 2018 and 2019.

2024

Returned to stateside ball in 2024 after finishing 2023 in the Korean Baseball Organization and bounced between five different organizations throughout the year...He signed back with the Twins on a Minor League deal during the 2023-24 offseason, but after being added to the club’s 40-man roster, he was traded to TB on March 26...Throughout the season, he bounced between TB, LAA, and PIT on the waiver wire before ultimately clearing waivers and electing free agency, where he signed a Minor League deal with the Orioles...Compiled a big league slash line of .103/.188/.103 between TB and LAA in just 33 plate appearances...In 243 Triple-A plate appearances, he slashed .284/.375/.460 across 60 games for the Rays’, Angels’ and Orioles’ affiliates.

2023

Signed by Boston on Minor League contract with an invite to Red Sox spring training...Began season with Triple-A Worcester...Recorded season-high four hits on May 21 vs. Lehigh Valley...Homered in three-straight games from May 19-23, including a multi-homer game on May 23 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre...Released by Boston organization on July 3 and signed with Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization...Hit .295 (51-for-173) with 14 doubles, one triple, 28 RBI, 23 walks, a .373 on-base percentage and a .760 OPS in 50 games from July 21-Oct. 10 for Lotte to finish his professional season...Signed Minor League contract with Minnesota with spring training invite on Dec. 14...drafted by Twins organization in 2010 and played eight professional seasons with Minnesota's Minor League system and Major League team.

2022

Signed an MLB contract with HOU on 3/15. Made the Astros’ Opening Day roster. Played in 15 games with HOU, all from 4/8-5/14... Went 5-for-43 (.116). Optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on 5/14...Hit .310 (13-for-42) with a .500 OBP in 12 games before being placed on the injured list on 6/4 with a left hamstring strain...Reinstated on 8/11. Played in only one more game (8/12) before being designated for assignment on 9/1 and then released. Recorded a .488 OBP in his 20 Minor League games, totaling more walks (24) than strikeouts (23).

2021

Played in 90 games for the Tigers, hitting .214 (62x290) with 11 doubles, nine homers and 33 RBI... stole a career-high 14 bases in 19 attempts... Had strong numbers against left-handed pitching, hitting .274 (26x95) with a .741 OPS vs. southpaws... Started games at shortstop (60), second base (8), left field (6) and center field (4)...also appeared in one game at first base... Made the Tigers OPENING DAY roster, but suffered three injuries that required IL stints throughout the season...missed time with a sprained left finger tendon ((June 19-July 7), a left calf contusion (July 17-Aug. 10) and a left groin strain (Aug. 12-Sept. 1)... Outrighted off the Tigers 40-man roster on Nov. 19 and elected free agency.

2020

Played in 43 games with the Tigers in 2020, posting a .184/.263/.335 slashline with seven doubles, five home runs and 20 RBI…spent time on the injured list between Sept. 5-15 with a strained right oblique... Following the season he was named a finalist for the Gold Glove award for American League shortstops… among AL shortstops with at least 250 innings played this season he ranked second with a 9.8 UZR/150, and third with a 2.2 UZR and .991 fielding percentage (UZR/150 is UZR normalized for number of chances in a season)… Recorded seven assists on July 25 at Cincinnati, which tied a career high…has posted that total just one other time in his career, coming on July 3, 2019, at Chicago (AL)… Snapped an 0x15 streak on Aug. 7 at Pittsburgh, pounding a pair of doubles and finishing 2x6 with five RBI…that RBI total tied a single-game career high for the second time (other, May 14, 2019, vs. Cleveland)…the effort came from the leadoff spot, making him one of six players this season in the Major Leagues to have five-or-more RBI in a single game from the leadoff spot... Belted the first lead-off homer of his Major League career on Aug. 8 at Pittsburgh... Posted multiple hits in three of four games from Aug. 7-10…that stretch included his sixth career game with four-or-more hits on Aug. 10 vs. Chicago (AL) (last, July 14, 2019. at Kansas City)…over that stretch he went 8x24 with four runs scored and five extra-base hits, also knocking seven RBI.

2019

Appeared in more than 100 games for the second consecutive season, seeing time in 112 games in 2019...Named the Tigers winner of the 2019 Heart and Hustle Award by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association...Saw time at seven different defensive positions during the season, playing 38 games at shortstop, 22 games at second base, 20 games in left field, 18 games at first base, eight games in center field, five games in right field and one game at third base...Recorded the first five-hit game and the second multi-homer game of his Major League career on May 31 at Atlanta…became the first Detroit player to have at least five hits, four runs and three RBI in a game since Carlos Peña on May 27, 2004 at Kansas City, while he was the first Tiger to go 5-for-5 with at least two home runs and three extra-base hits since Dmitri Young on May 6, 2003 at Baltimore...Had four hits and stole two bases on July 14 at Kansas City…became the first Tigers player to have at least four hits and two stolen bases in a game since Roger Cedeño on August 15, 2001...Selected the Tigers Player of the Month for July, hitting .284/.351/.477 with three doubles, one triple, four home runs and 11 RBI in 22 games...Sidelined from August 24-September 30 with a left groin strain.

2018

2017

Spent most of the 2017 season with Triple A Rochester...also saw the first Major League action of his career in September...Led Rochester in RBI (66), while he ranked second in games (127) and hits (122) and third in home runs (13)...Drove in a season-high six RBI on August 19 at Louisville...Hit .303 (33x109) with 19 runs scored, four doubles, one triple, four home runs and 20 RBI in 29 games during August...Made his Major League debut on September 2 vs. Kansas City as a defensive replacement at second base and went 0x2...Recorded his first Major League hit on September 12 vs. San Diego, an infield single off Cory Mazzoni.