WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- As Brian Goodwin checks out his potential new glove, he puts his hand inside, opens and closes it a few times. He gives it a pat or two, already starting to form the pocket. To break in a new glove, he will take every opportunity he can to put his hand inside -- during batting practice, Spring Training games, playing catch or just sitting around.
"Every time you get a new one, it's like starting from the beginning," Goodwin said. "Starting all the way over. As much as you use it, the more you use it, the better it's gonna be."
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Goodwin received his newest glove from Wilson at Glove Day on Thursday morning, a black 1799 A2K, about 12 3/4 inches long with red stitching. It's his go-to model -- he likes how light it feels on his hand when he is running in the outfield.
And Goodwin has reason to keep everything the same after his strong rookie season in Washington. In 74 games, he batted .251/.313/.498 with 13 home runs and a 105 OPS+. He is expected to be the Nats fourth outfielder this season, so finding a reliable glove is essential.
"I've been rocking with Wilson since I came in," Goodwin said. "Just reliable stuff. Good quality, good craftsmanship. They put details in every stitch, it seems like. It's just something that looks good on my hand, feels good, fun to run around with, easy to run around with and make plays."