KANSAS CITY -- Royals outfielder Brian Goodwin joined his new club on Monday at Kauffman Stadium ahead of the series opener against the Tigers, delivering a pinch-hit single in the seventh inning and going 2-for-2 in a 5-4 loss.
"It was a relief," said Goodwin, who replaced Paulo Orlando in center field. "I was just excited to get my number called. I didn't know how the day was going to play out."
Goodwin, who was acquired from the Nationals on Sunday for Minor League pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan, spent seven years in the Nats' organization after the club selected him in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Goodwin has played three seasons in the Majors, slashing .246/.315/.464 with 16 homers entering Monday.
His playing time was anything but consistent, however, as an outfield chock-full of young talent in Washington prevented him from settling into an everyday role. Now, joining a struggling Royals team searching for talent, he sees the opportunity as a chance to hit the reset button.
"Coming over here and not having so much to have to work through and sort through, and so many people to have to come around, this will definitely be a fresh start," Goodwin said.
When he did play, Goodwin showed decent pop and a solid glove. In 2017, he played in a career-high 74 games and belted a career-high 13 homers for the Nationals.
According to Goodwin, the power surge came as a result of seeing regular at-bats. But don't expect him to be a slugger, though.
"When I got consistent starts, yeah, I definitely think [my power] started to show itself a little more," Goodwin said. "But it's not something I would say I rely on. I'm not a power hitter. I don't expect to hit 30, 40 home runs. I just try to play my game."
The 2018 season began well for Goodwin, who was batting .278 with a homer and seven RBIs through his first 10 games. But a left wrist injury forced him to the disabled list for six weeks.
"It's just one of those things that took time," Goodwin said. "Just needed time to heal, and it kind of did its own thing. It was a bone situation so it was nothing we could do to speed up the process but give it time ... I'm glad that's behind me."
Now that he's healthy, Goodwin figures to work into a Royals outfield not short on competition but not void of opportunity, either. Manager Ned Yost said he'll give Goodwin a good look in center, but he is able to play elsewhere in the outfield, too.
Goodwin will take whatever opportunity he can get.
"I don't have a preference," Goodwin said. "I really just want [the Royals] to put me anywhere. I'm ready to go."
This isn't the first trade the Royals and Nationals have made this season, as reliever Kelvin Herrera was dealt to Washington on June 18.
Goodwin was only teammates with Herrera for just under a month, but he was able to get some parting advice about his new team from Herrera, who spent eight years in Kansas City.
"He had nothing but good things to say about the place and environment, the team," Goodwin said. "He was excited for me."