Seoul American junior Mike Goodman has not given up a hit in seven innings this season, striking out 18 of 22 batters in two victories. The left-hander would like to continue his baseball career at Arizona State. (Joseph Giordono / S&S)
Seoul American junior Mike Goodman has not given up a hit in seven innings this season, striking out 18 of 22 batters in two victories. The left-hander would like to continue his baseball career at Arizona State. (Joseph Giordono / S&S)
Mark Goodman, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound left-hander, throws a fastball in the mid-80 mph range and has an effective curveball. (Joseph Giordono / S&S)
Mike Goodman’s father had his collegiate baseball career stopped by arm problems, and his two older brothers had their careers end the same way.
The family’s youngest man, Mike, the ace of the Seoul American Falcons’ pitching staff, hopes to go further than anyone in his family. The junior wants to attend Arizona State and pick up where his father left off 40 years ago.
“That’s what we always talk about,” the younger Goodman said. “My goal is to just get into college. Whatever happens after that would be great.”
Great would describe Goodman’s Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Korea season. He has struck out 18 of 22 batters, allowing no hits and three walks in seven innings of two starts, both victories. A 6-foot-5, 220-pound left-hander, Goodman possesses a fastball in the mid-80 mph range and a wicked curveball.
“You can tell he’s played baseball before,” said coach Boe Roberts. “He would be in the top one or two on a high school staff in the States … especially being a left-hander and as big as he is.”
Some colleges already are interested. Arizona State coach Pat Murphy sends Goodman letters “every two or three weeks,” Mike said. He’s also gotten letters from Wake Forest, Stanford and the University of Dallas.
But Arizona State tops the list.
“I like the program, what the pitching coach had to say, the head coach’s philosophy,” said Mike, who’s attended two summer camps and spent one Christmas in Tempe. “I liked the players. It just seems like a good place to go.”
Goodman can expect a test, Roberts said, when the Falcons play Korean high schools. “With a little more work and playing against some better competition, get up his arm speed more, he’s a potential Division I pitcher,” Roberts said. “He knows how to keep hitters off-balance, keep them guessing.”
Goodman is unfazed by the level of competition he faces.
“I’ve had different experiences than kids in the States,” he said. “I have so many different ideals of the ways to play the game. Maybe that’s an advantage.”
He points to Shawn Novak, a right-hander for the Yokota Panthers who plans to walk on at the University of Hawaii next season. “If he can make it, then I can certainly make it,” Goodman said. “It’s very inspiring.”
Then there’s the paths his father and older brothers took: the military. His father is a Marine major general at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul and his brothers are Marine Reserve captains.
“I’ve thought about it a lot,” Goodman said. “I really enjoy the military life. It’s fun to travel to other places.”
But baseball’s allure is “much stronger.”
“It’s a game that I love,” he said. “It’s been my dream as a kid to step on the mound for a major-league team. Bottom of the ninth, 3-and-2 count, that type of deal. That’s my dream. That’s my passion.”
Goodman has had a strong desire to play baseball since shortly after berth. “My parents told me I could throw a baseball before I could walk,” he said.
He played tee-ball in Texas at 5 and Little League in Virginia at 7. He competed in the Amateur Athletic Union, played during the winter and summer in Miami, and participated in base league ball in North Carolina. He did all this before high school.
Mike’s high school years began on Okinawa but things have improved drastically since joining the Falcons. “We’re really strong all around,” he said. “We hit well, field well, I have good teammates. … Everyone has a really good attitude.”
Mike had reason to enjoy coming to Korea even months before the current season began, however. Gen. Leon LaPorte, U.S. Forces Korea commanding general, was acquainted with owners of the Korea Baseball Organization’s LG Twins. He arranged for Mike to attend a bullpen session before a July 31 game at Chamshil Stadium.
LG officials suggested Mike throw batting practice to three batters. Mike then took batting practice himself. He threw out the first ball before the game, with his name on the scoreboard.
“That was a great experience,” Goodman said. “It’s like every little kid’s dream, to go out on the mound, see the fans in the stands, throw a pitch and everybody cheers. It was awe-inspiring.”
Joining LaPorte and the Goodman family in the crowd that night was U.S. Ambassador to Korea Christopher Hill. He invited the Goodmans to dinner and Mike got to talk, dine and play catch with pitchers Chan Ho Park of the Texas Rangers and Byung Hyun Kim of the Boston Red Sox.
